Feature interview

FEATURE: JACOB RAMSEY

Jacob Ramsey couldn’t have asked for a better start in a Rovers shirt after joining the club on loan from Premier League side Aston Villa.

The 18-year-old midfielder scored twice on his full league debut, helping the team to a 3-1 win at Tranmere at the start of February.

Ramsey admits he had to pinch himself on his way home after the game, but says that is just the start of what he hopes to achieve before the end of the season.

“Scoring two decent goals on my debut at Tranmere was unbelievable, that was just the start for me though and I want to do more,” he says.

“I had to pinch myself after the game when I was driving home, I wanted to get off to a good start but didn’t think it would go that well.

“I had a couple of starts and then he took me out for the Bolton game, the manager knows what he’s doing with the squad.

“There is a big step from the under23s to first-team football, the biggest difference is the impact losing a game has on everybody.

“In the changing room after there is such a different atmosphere and being in there after a win is a good feeling.

“Everyone takes a defeat to heart which is a good thing because it shows that we care, but recently we’ve had a game coming up quickly to respond with.”

After coming out of the comfort zone of the Villa under-23s, Ramsey had the knowledge he would be joining a few other loanees in the Rovers squad.

He played against Niall Ennis earlier in his career and spends plenty of time with him and Wolves team-mate Cameron John away from football.

“I’ve only been here for a few weeks but it’s been good for me and I’ve managed to get a few starts under my belt,” says Ramsey.

“Some of the other loan boys have helped me to settle in and if I need anything they are always around to sort me out.

“I knew before I came here that there were a few loan boys doing well so I thought I’d get plenty of opportunities.

“I’ve played against Niall in the under-23s before so it was good to see a familiar face when I arrived.”

Before deciding on whether to make the move to South Yorkshire, Ramsey took on board the advice of somebody who knows the club extremely well.

Former Rovers assistant manager Richard O’Kelly is now part of Dean Smith’s coaching staff at Villa Park, and gave a glowing reference on what the youngster could expect from all aspects of the club.

“I had the choice between coming here and staying at Villa, this was the best option for me to develop as a player so I jumped at the opportunity,” he says.

“I had a few conversations with Richard O’Kelly before I came here and he said really good things about the stadium and people around the place.

“He said he was looking forward to coming up to watch me play which is great for me to have the support of the coaching staff at Villa.

“It helps to have someone there who knows the club I’m coming to, he gave me a couple of pointers in what to do and what not to do.”

RAMSEY

RAMSEY

Midfielder Jack Grealish continues to blossom in the Premier League having gone right through the Villa youth system and now wears the captain’s armband.

As a fellow die-hard Villa fan, Ramsey says he has to be the inspiration for any young player trying to make their way in the game.

Everyone who comes up through the academy at Villa looks up to Jack, he’s the one player that has really gone on to become a top class player in recent years.

We’ve got a couple of others that have got into the firstteam and then gone out on loan but Jack is getting better and better.

With him being a Villa fan and coming through the system to then captain the team, everyone looks up to him now as their inspiration.

Training with him over the past 18 months has helped me, he trains the way he plays so that’s something I want to try and replicate.

It shows that there is a pathway through if you’re good

enough and work hard then you’ll get rewarded.

The Villa team when Jack came through to now for me is very different, he came in when we went down but they’re better now and much more accomplished.

Manager Darren Moore has already had an impact on Ramsey, giving him the encouragement and confidence needed to go out and perform well every week.

He believes Moore’s experience in working with young players earlier in his coaching career makes Rovers an attractive proposition when deciding which club to join.

“The manager has got a great reputation when it comes to developing younger players so he was a big factor in me coming here,” he adds.

“He’s obviously been at West Brom and knows exactly what the young lads need and when the right time is to have a break.

“Knowing that he has that ability to welcome the boys in and improve them made me want to come and do well.

“There is no blame culture and that is big particularly for young players, as you need to know you’ve got the backing of your manager when you’re stepping out onto the pitch.

“I want to go back at the end of the season as a more rounded person and player as that is what a loan spell is all about.

“The big reason for coming here was to show I’m capable of playing well in men’s football and at a good level as well.”

2019-20 STAT PACK

DONCASTER ROVERS

MATCH FACTS

Doncaster’s only victory in seven previous league meetings with Wycombe was back in August 2018 –a 3-0 win (D1 L5). V

WYCOMBE WANDERERS

51 51 4

2

YELLOW CARDS

RED CARDS

MATCH FACTS

Wycombe have won one, drawn one and lost one of their three previous league trips to Doncaster.

47 44 1.5 1.3 321 324 45.2 41.7 9 13

GOALS AV.GOALS PER GAME SHOTS (EX. BLOCKED) % SHOTS ON TARGET CLEAN SHEETS

14.6 13.6 169 155 32 37 1.0 1.1 392 466

% GOALS TO SHOTS CORNER KICKS GOALS CONCEDED AV.GOALS CONCEDED PER GAME FOULS

GOAL TIMES GOAL TIMES SCORED CONCEDED 9 12 15 SCORED CONCEDED 9 12 15

6

0 3

0-15 16-30 31-45 46-60 61-75 76-90 6

0 3

0-15 16-30 31-45 46-60 61-75 76-90