How Doncaster Rovers' pursuit of Jacob Ramsey played out and the position Darren Moore sees him playing

Jacob Ramsey signed on loan for Rovers on deadline day with Moore revealing Villa were initially unsure whether they wanted to allow the 18-year-old out this season.

But as the window drew to a close, the Premier League outfit decided the Keepmoat was the place for the midfielder to gain his first real taste of senior football, with other clubs also expressing an interest.

“That’s really important,” Moore said of Villa’s faith.

“They rate him really highly and I can see why.

“At this stage of his career and at the age he is, it’s good for him to get a loan at a League One club of the stature of ourselves. It’s wonderful and testament to him.

“There was one or two showing an interest in him. It was probably half a dozen clubs that had shown an interest.

“There was also a point where Villa wanted to carry on developing him. They were probably wondering if it was right for him to go out or not.

“We’re really pleased that with both clubs working together, Villa doing a reccy of our environment, us, the player - it fits all parties and we have him board.”

Moore revealed Rovers initially expressed their interest in the England youth international early in the season.

Despite Ramsey having only played 43 minutes of senior football so far in his career, the Rovers boss is more than confident he can step up on a regular basis this season.

“We knew about Jacob a good few months before the window,” he said.

“Did we think we were going to get Jacob? That was the question and we were unsure if we would.

“He came on the radar and I just thought that the type of player he is, the style of player and the age that he is, he is more than capable of stepping in.

“He’s a good footballer, a clever player, a knowledgeable player who knows the game and one that has the physicality to deal with it as well.

“I just thought he was right to come into the environment that we have here at Doncaster, he’s at the right club with the right players and staff to grow and develop and get to that next part of his career.

“I really hope that he settles because if he does - and we’ve done everything we can with him engaging with the squad - he’ll be a good player for us.”

Ramsey is an attack-minded midfielder but Moore says he has the ability to fit in either of the two midfield banks with which Rovers currently operate.

He said: “He can play both. That is the position where he can play. He’s versatile enough to do it.

“I’ve seen his ability first hand in training and what I’ve seen, from a distance and close up, he can do both.”