Relax - go do it, Fergie tells Rovers loanee Gooch

Doncaster Rovers supporters will begin to see the best of Lynden Gooch if the on-loan forward can relax, Darren Ferguson believes.
Lynden Gooch has yet to find the net for RoversLynden Gooch has yet to find the net for Rovers
Lynden Gooch has yet to find the net for Rovers

The Sunderland forward this week extended his stay at the Keepmoat until the end of the season.

During his initial month on loan with Rovers, United States youth international Gooch has shown only flashes of the quality that has made him so highly-rated at his parent club.

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But Ferguson is confident Gooch will shine if he can shake off some of the pressure he has placed on himself.

“I had a chat with him before the Barnsley game and he’s got a bit uptight with himself,” the Rovers boss said. “As a striker, you always want to hit the ground running if you can and get that early goal.

“He just needs to relax, remember it’s his first loan spell and that he’s only a young lad.

“He shouldn’t take too much responsibility on his shoulders and try to relax.

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“To be fair to him, he’s been good in training and trained well this week.

“If given the chance he’ll have to take that into the game on Saturday against Millwall.”

Gooch has yet to score in five appearances for Rovers, the latter of which came off the bench at Barnsley last weekend.

Despite his lack of firepower so far, Ferguson believes the loan extension was good for all concerned.

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He said: “I was important to get Lynden because really I’d only have three strikers if we hadn’t.

“Also I think he’s different to what we’ve got.

“It was good that we got him. The lad was very keen to stay, he’s enjoying it so it’s good all round for everyone.”

Rovers have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the weekend clash with on-form Millwall at the Keepmoat.