It
may not be the Theatre of Dreams, but New York Stadium and Rotherham
can offer Tom Thorpe something Old Trafford and Manchester United
could not – regular games.
The
22-year-old joined the Millers earlier this summer on a two-year deal
after his release from the Red Devils at the end of the last
campaign.
Although
he made his senior debut, was captain of the Under-21s and regularly
trained with the first team during the 2014/15 season, Thorpe was
left wanting more.
He
was courted by plenty of clubs after his surprise release, but chose
the Millers and has his name on the teamsheet in his sights.
“It's
still a big club in its own right and it was naturally the next step
for me to come and play first-team football,” he said of his move
to the Millers.
“I
had been at United for quite a while and tried to force myself into
that squad, but it was a case of I wanted to come and play first-team
football and hopefully I can work hard and get that here.
“It
had come to the point where I did want first-team football, to come
out and prove myself really.
“If
I had stayed I would have been on the periphery and not really
played. Hopefully my aim is to come here and work hard in training
and force myself into the team and the aim is to stay there.”
Coming
through the ranks at such an esteemed club as United, Thorpe is going
to have some enviable qualities.
But
it's those instilled in him by Under-21s coach Warren Joyce which
could make him best-suited to the Millers.
“First
and foremost I defend, I love defending and then I like to bring the
ball out and start an attack,” he added. “But first and foremost
I love to defend, doing my job.
“I
played against West Ham, obviously that was a really good experience,
something you have always dreamed of as a kid coming through the
academy.
“I
had numerous mentors, from the Under-18s it was Paul McGuinness and
then from the Under-21s it was Warren Joyce, who definitely installed
a bit of fight and never-say-die attitude which is good for any
player to have.
“You
try to learn off players more than anything, I trained with the
first-team numerous times.”
