It's no secret that Rotherham United boss Paul Warne has been an admirer of Hakeeb Adelakun for some time, so with the 23-year-old now part of his squad for the remainder of the current Sky Bet League One season following his arrival on loan from Bristol City, he is delighted to have sealed the deal.
"After we played Scunthorpe in the Play-offs when we got promoted I tried to get him then, but he obviously went to Bristol City," the manager told www.themillers.co.uk, speaking about his pursuit of the winger.
"He hasn't played as often as he would've liked for them, and I attempted to sign him last January as well but we couldn't make it happen.
"So to get him in now is really good, and I love players who can operate in more than one position. He can play on the left or the right, as well as being able to sit just behind the strikers as well.
"That gives me a bit of flexibility really and he's an athletic lad who can handle the ball well - he's just a very strong player technically. I just think he offers something different for us."
The winger made his name during a six-year stay at Scunthorpe United which saw him amass almost 200 appearances in the Football League, and Warne believes that he can prove to be a strong addition if he recaptures some of the form he displayed whilst at Glanford Park.
With the season now at its midway point, it isn’t always simple for a fresh face to come in and fire on all cylinders from the off, but the gaffer believes that the spirit of his team will assist his first signing of 2020 to settle in.
"If he comes in and performs he will be a good asset, but he's got to train his way into the team and then work to stay in it. That's never easy as I've explained to him, but he's got the bit between his teeth and he's missed playing,” Warne said.
"There's no better feeling than waking up on a Saturday morning knowing that you've got a game to play, so I'll think he'll look forward to the challenge.
"Some of the lads know him, he's mates with Freddie and he knows Crooksy very well so he's got a couple of friends in the dressing room straight away. It's a good group we have here and I'm expecting him to add to that on and off the pitch, and with that in mind, I look forward to working with him."