Brewers boss talks about new loan signings
Brewers boss Gary Rowett spoke this evening about his dealings on just his second Transfer Deadline Day as manager of the Brewers.
"Transfer deadline day is a really interesting day" said Gary, "You have got to make decisions, identify targets, try and get deals done and that is all part of being a manager. At the start of the day you feel great but come the end I feel more exhausted than when I ran the Leicester marathon about a year ago!"
"Its a crucial day that can be make or break. What happens today can materially affect the rest of the season so you have to hope that you have got things right."
Ultimately it proved a successful day for the Brewers with Gary bening able to bring in 6ft 3in Leyton Orient striker Michael Symes on a loan deal to the end of the season and also 22 year old Burnley forward Alex MacDonald on an initial one month loan deal.
Symes began his career as a trainee with Everton where he started out alongside a young Wayne Rooney and has also played for Bradford City, Shrewsbury Town, Accrington Stanley and AFC Bournemouth as well as having several loan spells earlier in his career.
"Michael was an obvious one for us really. I wanted to bring another striker in and I think that what Michael does is give us a really good balance. He can play as a target man and he can also be a link player as he is very good on the ball. He can play instead of Calvin or he can play as the second striker alongside him. He is a good size at 6' 3" and he has got good experience at this level. He has scored goals at League One level over the last two or three seasons and whenever we have come up against him at League 2 level he has caused us problems."
"I think it is important to bring in lads who know what it is about at this level. Michael had three or four very good options from League Two clubs but he expressed a wish to come to us in the same way that Ian Sharps did. That is something we are very keen on, players who want to come to us and prove a point to kick start things in their career."
Joining Michael at the Pirelli Stadium on deadline day is Scotland under-21 international Alex MacDonald on an initial one month loan deal. The youngster lined up against the Brewers earlier this season during a loan spell with Plymouth Argyle and now returns to League Two to join Albion. Gary explained his thoughts on bringing the versatile Burnley man in to the club.
"We have seen Alex at Burnley a number of times over the last few years. He has played several times for Scotland at under 21 level and has also played at this level at the end of last season and earlier this campaign with Plymouth. They were very keen to bring him in permanently when Carl Fletcher was in charge there but then they changed manager and he returned to Burnley. He is a player who can play right side, left side and can play behind the striker as well., Predominantly we have brought him in to add competition down the flanks and on his day he is a little pocket rocket. He is powerful, aggressive and has got some real quality and that is why I want to get a really good look at him for a month and then hopefully we can keep him here for longer."
Rowett declared himself pleased with business which has seen him bring in four players but more importantly lose none of his key first team players as the season enters its final third.
"For us this window has been about strengthening and improving what we have got and I think we can be very happy with our business this month."
Both Michael and Alex will be available to make their Burton Albion debuts at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.