On-loan defender Jack O’Connell believes Rochdale can not only achieve promotion this season but win the League Two title.
Dale are buoyant ahead of Saturday’s trip to Hartlepool United after knocking out Championship side Leeds United out of the FA Cup last weekend.
Former England Under 19 captain O’Connell, whose parent club is Blackburn Rovers, is hoping Dale can carry this good form into the league and make a title charge.
“Our is to aim get promoted and to win the league not the play-offs, but I think if we keep doing well in the cup and take our form into the league I don’t see why we can’t (win the league),” O’Connell told MM.
“Obviously beating a Championship side is always great, but we need to concentrate on the Hartlepool game so we’ve have just been focused on the next game.
“Every game in League Two is going to be hard especially away from home but we just need to keep our form going.”
The 19-year-old recently extended his loan deal at Spotland until the end of the season and could hide his delight at securing his future for the rest of season.
“I was made up (to get my loan deal extended) I spoke to the gaffer and his aim was to get promoted so that’s what I want,” said O’Connell.
Having signed his first professional deal with Blackburn in 2011 this has been the first full season in which O’Connell has played regular first team football, making 27 appearances for Dale so far.
But with the competition for places in Keith Hill’s squad, the defender is fully focused on keeping his place in the team.
“It’s good to play regular first team football of course, but I just need to keep working hard in training and keep my shirt, so I can play every week,” he said.
Image courtesy of Official Rochdale via YouTube, with thanks.
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
