Rookie Hird makes point for new deal
GETTING promoted with his hometown club and earning a new deal would be pretty difficult to top for young defender Sam Hird.
The Doncaster lad has viewed this season largely from a spectating prospective, with the form of the likes of Adam Lockwood, Steve Roberts and Matt Mills ensuring that the door has largely been shut in terms of landing a spot in the heart of defence – his favoured position.
That said, Hird, who joined Rovers on a one-year deal last summer following a successful loan spell from Leeds, offers valuable cover in being one of those players able to slot in across the back line.
Last season, he even featured as a makeshift striker when coming on as sub in the game against Northampton, with his versatility sure to stand him in good stead when Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll decides his retained list.
Hird, still a rookie at 20, is the first to admit that he has plenty to learn. But performances like the one he produced in Rovers' recent 2-0 win over Swindon – when he made his full debut at centre-half in place of the suspended Mills – won't have been lost on O'Driscoll.
Hird marked O'Driscoll's card with some composed showings during a three-month loan spell at Grimsby earlier this term, with his performances also currying plenty of favour with Mariners boss Alan Buckley.
Hird said: "It's good to be playing for my hometown club and, hopefully, I can establish myself as a first-team player and I'll get another contract.
"It was good just to get out there and get a clean sheet against Swindon.
"I think I had a solid game. A few times I looked a little rusty, but I'm sure with a few more games the rustiness will go and I'll be performing like I want to.
"Fitness hasn't been the problem. I've had the loan spell and a few behind-closed-doors games. I probably just need a few more games just to get to my best.
"I wasn't badgering the manager all week to play. To be fair, I haven't done that all year. All I've done is keep my head down.
"I went out on loan and got some games in and worked hard and it was good to get my chance.
"I'd have liked to have played a few more games for Doncaster, but at least I've shown the manager what I can do now.
"I enjoyed it at Grimsby. It was good to get some regular games and play some first-team football.
"But Doncaster is where I want to be and against Swindon I think I've proved I can play at this level.
"It's been hard this season, but I know I'm good enough."
Hird added: "Being on the bench is frustrating as you train to play. But, as a defender, you are not going to go on unless you are a few goals up and you play for the last five minutes.
"you know you are only really there in case someone gets injured.
"I'm at the age where, in a couple of years, I'd want to be a first-team regular.
"Right now, it's okay as a defender to be a bit-part player. I think you bide your time a bit more, you play longer and take a lot more time to mature."
Rovers confirmed their play-off place with victory over Swindon, but there's still a chance – albeit a slim one – of automatic promotion.
Hird insists the prospect of Rovers facing his old club Leeds in the play-offs hasn't crossed his mind – but he fully expects the South Yorkshiremen to beat the Whites if they are paired together.
On a possible White Rose play-off derby, he said: "Although it hasn't crossed my mind, I think it has for a few of the lads who have been playing all year.
"Leeds would be a good team to play in the play-off semi-finals because over two legs I think we would beat them hands down.
"But to be honest, I don't think it matters who we play. I believe that if we play the best that we can we're probably the best team in the league.
"If it's the play-offs, we've just got to focus on what we've got to do. We can't be thinking 'what if'.
"If we go up automatically, that's an extra bonus.
"If it is the play-offs, the senior players will help the younger ones to get through the big matches."
YEP
