Rotherham United: Record signing Freddie Ladapo will beat himself up if he does not produce goods for Millers

Rotherham United’s record signing Freddie Ladapo has come to the club score goals – and he will beat himself up if he does not produce the goods.
Freddie Ladapo marked his Millers debut with a goalFreddie Ladapo marked his Millers debut with a goal
Freddie Ladapo marked his Millers debut with a goal

The striker arrived from Plymouth for a reported fee of £500,000 in the summer more money than the Millers have ever spent on a player.

He has hit the ground running, scoring two goals from his first five appearances and looks set to be the main man in attack.

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That is just how the 26-year-old likes it and he will be his own harshest critic if he is not finding the back of the net regularly.

“I have set myself a target, I always keep it a secret but you will find out,” he said.

“You will see me beating myself up after every game if I don't get a goal.

“The record fee comes with a lot of pressure. You heard at Wimbledon a few weeks ago their fans booing me, no one wants to see a record signing coming in and doing well.

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“Big things are expected of me and I have to live up to that pressure and I think it has been a good sign that more things are to come.”

Ladapo is part of a three-man attack Paul Warne is adopting in League One this season and it is a new experience for the former Crystal Palace striker.

There is a fluidity to them, meaning them can interchange positions regularly throughout a match and he admits it is taking some getting used to.

“It is not easy, but we have spent six weeks working on it,” he added.

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“I have played in a three with just me staying forward, but not with three strikers.

“It is a new thing for me but the manager is coaching and teaching us well in that system. They work with us every day, you see the positions I get into, I don't get into them by luck, it is worked on.

“I am proud of myself for being in those positions.”

On his first few months at the club, Ladapo admits it could not have gone better.

“I am settling in very well, the lads have taken to me very well, the manager has taken to me very well,” he said. “It is quite an easy place to settle in, it is a family club, everyone is connected and together with each other.