‘Key to my life’ - Doncaster Rovers star Owen Bailey receives huge praise from grateful teammate
“He's lovely to me, lovely to everyone on and off the pitch.”
Doncaster Rovers youngster Bayley McCann has heaped praise on club captain Owen Bailey describing him as a great person and a terrific leader both on and off the field.
McCann netted his first ever Football League goal during the 3-1 defeat to Luton Town on Tuesday evening, in a night which also saw Bailey reach 150 consecutive starts in the league - becoming the only player in Doncaster Rovers’ history to achieve the feat.
Bailey has yet to miss a league game since arriving from Gateshead and has played a key role in helping Rovers progress from League Two into the third-tier of English football.
“It's an absolutely unbelievable achievement,” McCann told the Free Press after the loss at Kenilworth Road.
“I'm buzzing for Bailes, and he's such a great leader. He's such a great lad in general. He's lovely to me, lovely to everyone on and off the pitch.
“He definitely tells me where I'm going wrong, but there's moments where he does tell me what I'm doing really well.”
Bailey, who inherited the captain’s armband officially last summer after Richard Wood’s exit, is one of a number of senior players that have helped McCann make the jump up three divisions having spent last season at Alfreton in the National League North.
“I'd say Bailey’s up there with a lot of the players in terms of teaching me. Him and Alfie have been a big key to my life. James Husband’s been really good to me as well.
“It's just good to have these sorts of people around me, obviously I'm only young, so to have those people that have that good experience in this league and leagues above just really help.”
McCann made his first start of the season in the 2-0 loss to Stockport County, with his other appearances so far coming from the subs bench. He’ll be keen to make a further impact in the weeks and months ahead with a number of challenging away matches on the horizon.