Loanee Reece Wabara is determined to repay the faith Paul Dickov has shown him during his stay with Rovers.
The 21-year-old joined on an initial one month deal from Manchester City last week, reuniting him with Dickov who signed him on loan at Oldham last season.
And he is out to justify Dickov’s on-going faith in him as well as forcing himself into the thoughts of new City boss Manuel Pellegrini.
“The manager believes in me 100 per cent and I want to repay that,” Wabara said.
“Paul has been very influential for me, I have a great deal of respect for him. When he called me to ask me to come down I was delighted, I took it with both hands.
“I takes a lot of the pressure off the manager knowing you well because he knows what you can do.
“Sometimes having to go out and really prove yourself makes you not do as well as you normally would.
“It’s a chance to prove myself, I’m a very determined person and I want to show everyone my ability.
“I want to play well for myself and the team and whatever happens will happen.”
Wabara made his Rovers debut in the Capital One Cup clash with Rochdale last week, coming off after 71 minutes with cramp.
The full back admits he has had a poor pre-season as he waited for his move to Rovers to be finalised.
But Wabara says he is using the break between the Rochdale game and Friday’s game with Blackburn to work on his fitness.
He said: “I’d say I’m about 80 per cent in terms of fitness but that’s improving.
“I’ve not had the best of pre-seasons.
“This move was supposed to go through a few weeks ago but due to the investment talks it didn’t happen.
“I’ve been training on my own and the Rochdale game was my first since last season. But I’m getting there with my fitness.
“This break between games has been good because it’s given me time to get to know the lads and build understanding with the players I’m going to be playing with.
“I’ve also been able to work on my fitness. I’ve used it to my advantage.”
Rovers’ second string will play their first game of the season at the Keepmoat today against Mansfield Town (2pm).