DONCASTER ROVERS’ DECISION to sign Kieran Sadlier was “a no-brainer”, according to manager Grant McCann.
Having been in the League of Ireland since January 2016, Sadlier has returned to England after joining Doncaster on an 18-month deal following the expiration of his contract with Cork City.
The 24-year-old attacker moved to City from Sligo Rovers in July 2017. He thrived when given the opportunity with the Leesiders this year, scoring 24 goals in all competitions.
“He’s been the best player in [the League of] Ireland for the last two and a half years,” McCann told the Doncaster Free Press. “He scored 49 goals in that spell, lots of assists, team of the year, winning trophies. He was a no-brainer signing for us.”
McCann previously worked with Sadlier during his time as assistant manager at Peterborough United, with whom the ex-Ireland U21 international had a brief spell in 2015. The manager of Doncaster — who are currently in sixth place in League One — believes Sadlier has improved significantly since then.
McCann said: “I’m excited about it really. He’s a great kid. I’ve tracked him for the last year, definitely since I’ve come to Doncaster. We’ve watched him three or four times. Myself and Cliff [Byrne, assistant] went out to watch him.
“I know of him anyway because he was at Peterborough for a year. But while he was at Peterborough he was a young boy who had just come out of West Ham and it was probably a step too soon for him in League One. He’s done it the hard way. He went on loan to Halifax, then he got a move to Sligo and he’s just excelled in Ireland.”
He added: “He’s an attacking player. He takes people on, very good at dead balls, free kicks, penalties, corners. He shoots with both feet. There’s obviously areas of his game we feel we can improve but we keep that to ourselves. We’ll help him on that.
“But in terms of the long progression of the football club, the next year and the year after that, he’s an ideal signing for us.”
Sadlier will be available to make his debut for Doncaster on New Year’s Day, when he could come up against former Cork City team-mates Ryan Delaney and Stephen Dooley as Doncaster host Rochdale.
Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:
But they were AI champions last week???
@Harry Corry: Everyone outside of Mayo hyped them up. Every mayo fan could see our defence was wide open against Galway. Conceded 17 scores, same thing again today but Tyrone much better defensively than Galway. It’s about finding the balance. Horan always plays attacking football. It was the exact same in his first stint. Great going forward but wide open in defence.
@Harry Corry: No Harry. Dublin were the Al champions last week. Don’t feel embarrassed. It can be confusing but Mayo have a way to go yet ;-)
@Desheen: I’m joking btw lads. Mayo are my 2nd favourite team after Cork. Never give up
@Harry Corry: they are a lot of people’s second favourites because they win feck all
Tyrone are probably the worst team to play against following a convincing win. No better team to get in your face and bring you back down to earth.
If this article doesn’t bring Mel out nothing will
@my name: Mel seems to have retired from being a contrary bollocks on the internet
@Miguel Sanchez: Mel is a prize ballocks
@Miguel Sanchez: ah you’d miss him all the same
@my name: he can be an awkward one and I’m from Tyrone. Hope he is ok though, havent seen him here in ages.
So much for big shot moran today, Motm last week but substituted at half time today…disappointing stuff once again from Mayo. Bottlers