Rotherham United has announced a double transfer swoop, of Alex MacDonald upon the expiry of his Stevenage contract, as well as Goalkeeper Cameron Dawson from Championship side Sheffield Wednesday upon the expiry of his contract.
This now makes, it ten new additions for Steve Evans as the squad rebuild continues after relegation last season, joining the likes of Joe Rafferty, Sean Raggett and Liam Kelly.
Speaking to the club’s media team, manager Steve Evans had this to say on the arrival of Alex MacDonald.
“Macca is a really good signing for us and is best described as a small part of a jigsaw that creates a fantastic picture when it is complete”
“He’ll bring experience, he’ll help on and off the field and he’ll harmonise the dressing room which is a unique skill to have in football and is exactly why managers like myself will bring a player in his mould into the club.”
Also, when asked about Goalkeeper Cameron Dawson.
“I’m absolutely delighted to secure the signature of young Cameron.
“He’s a player that I’ve watched play for Sheffield Wednesday on many occasions and is a player that has turned in some magnificent displays during that time”
“He had options to stay at Hillsborough and others elsewhere in the Championship and a multitude of options in League One, so to get him to AESSEAL New York Stadium is a great acquisition.
“Cam comes in to add real competition with Dillon Phillips in the goalkeeping department where I believe we’re looking really strong now.”
“He will have a part to play on the pitch when it is right to do so and I know he will be a major asset to the club in the season ahead.”
Who Are the New Signings?
First off Alex, the 34-year-old has now played under Evans at four different clubs, after playing for him at Mansfield, Gillingham, Stevenage, and now Rotherham.
The Scotsman was a product of the Burnley academy where he made a total of eleven appearances for The Clarets. The midfielder is vastly experienced especially at League Two level where he has played 312 games, he has also played 92 at League One level.
His most fruitful spell goalscoring spell was while he was at Oxford United, where he scored 12 goals and 16 assists in 97 games in all competitions. He is also capped at Scotland U19 and U21 level.
Cameron, a product of the Sheffield Wednesday academy, has also had numerous loan spells away from The Owls, with his first loan being to Plymouth Argyle (where he didn’t make an appearance), before being sent to Alfreton Town, Wycombe Wanderers, Chesterfield and Exeter City. The 28-year-old goalkeeper, accumulated a total of 128 games for Sheffield Wednesday.
Last season, he played a role in the major up-turn in form when Danny Rohl came in where they won five in 10 and drew one.
The keeper is vastly experienced at Championship level with 83 appearances to his name, as well as 22 in League One, 22 of which were in the second half of Sheffield Wednesday’s promotion season where they made a heroic comeback against Peterborough United.
What will they both bring Rotherham United?
Alex is a versatile midfielder and someone who Evans undoubtedly trusts, he can play a near anywhere down the right-hand side, as well as in the 6,8 or 10 positions in midfield.
If you’re going off what Transfermarkt says about him he played seven different positions last season! Not only a versatile player on the pitch, but I think he will be a big character in the dressing room.
Steve demands a lot of his players out of possession and Alex could well act as a good role model to the younger professionals as well as players that haven’t played under him before.
Looking back on Cameron’s last season in League One, he made 22 appearances, keeping 13 clean sheets only missing three games in the second half of the season.
In terms of Goalkeepers in the Championship, he ranked in the 88th percentile for accurate long balls last season which with Steve Evans’s direct approach will favour The Millers, especially with a physical threat up front in Jonson-Clarke Harris.
The keeper is also confident at coming off his line to claim corners and crosses ranking in the 78% percentile, with Steve favoring more a low block in terms of defending, he won’t have to be much of a sweeper keeper which isn’t one of his best attributes.
He will offer great competition for Dillon Phillips who is also experienced at the league one level having won promotion with Charlton Athletic.