RUFC - Newsham on the Brink?

Rotherham United's striker, Marc Newsham, came on as sub for an inefficient Chris O'Grady against Darlington and didn't do himself any harm in the forty-five minutes he played.

Although third or fourth in the pecking order at Millmoor, especially now, with the loan signing of Bruce Dyer, Newsham gave the Darlington defence a different problem as the sprightly young man nipped in and around them on Saturday.

Manager, Mark Robins, told The Advertiser, 'we were huffing and puffing a bit on Saturday and I thought we needed to get more possession. I put Newy on and he gave us something that little bit different.'

Newsham is no stranger to scoring for the first team, as having got chances at the back end of last season he got goals against Gillingham, Cheltenham and Bristol City.

'The goals gave me confidence,' the twenty-one year old said, 'but I knew I would have to fight for my place. But, I've been biding my time for a couple of years and, as Chris O'Grady and Derek Holmes have been doing well this season, I haven't minded sitting out.

'There are four or five of us fighting for two or three places but the competition is good.

'I've been playing in the reserves since I was fifteen or sixteen and I notice a difference in the football - the tempo of the first team is a lot quicker. You have to be ready when you step up or you will get bitten.'

Newsham said he had learnt things from his manager, 'the gaffer can't run anymore but he does sometimes join in training and he's definitely still got it. He also talks to us, gives us pointers which are good to take notice of.'

My personal view of Newy is that here is a young man who will take any chance he can and will rise to any challenge set before him.

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