Inigo Calderon has drawn similarities between the playing styles of new recruit Michael Reindorf with the currently injured Gatlin O’Donkor but doesn’t want to put pressure on the teenager to score goals.
Reindorf was one of three deadline day arrivals at Bristol Rovers alongside fellow loanees Sil Swinkels and Myles Roberts and ended up being Rovers’ pick as the coveted attacking addition.
The 19-year-old has played just four games for parent club Cardiff City’s first team since joining the South Wales club from Norwich City last summer but made his debut for the Gas in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Stockport County from the bench and made an impact.
The striker won the free-kick taken by Matt Butcher that led to fellow debutant Swinkels’ equaliser in added time and, although senior experience may be limited, the teenager arrives in BS7 with excellent reviews from the other side of the Prince of Wales Bridge.
“Well, it was something similar to Gats,” Calderon told Bristol Live when asked what attracted the club to Reindorf. “He can play as a striker but sometimes he can play a bit on the left. I think, as I say, he’s quite similar to Gats. When the option came, having Gats injured, I think it was the best, not change, but addition for the team.
“He’s quite, as I say, direct, but at the same time he can drop to get the ball, he’s alright with the ball and feet, he can score goals but maybe he’s not just a number nine.
“I like these players that can play in different positions because as a coach that gives you chances to move the team without moving the players, so I think it’s great for us.”
Rovers are amongst the lowest scorers in League One with only Wigan Athletic (27) and Stevenage (28) scoring fewer goals than their 29 so far. Additionally, they currently have two strikers out injured who aren’t expected to return for another month at the very least in O’Donkor and Promise Omochere.
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Rightly or wrongly, being a striker coming into a low-scoring team, there will be pressure on the Cardiff loanee to contribute goals as the Gas look to steer themselves clear of danger.
For now, Reindorf is expected to remain an impact player as he settles into his new surroundings while Rovers are still hoping to find a way to finally kickstart a scoring spree for Chris Martin who, having scored 16 goals in League One last season, has just two so far, one of which a penalty.
However, Calderon doesn’t want to add any pressure on his new recurit to hit the ground running and immediately start scoring goals, saying: “At the same time, as you say, he has to add things to the team and for example, the free-kick was coming from one of his actions. So for me, I don’t want to put pressure on the striker.
“I know that the strikers are different to the rest. They need the goals to feel the confidence. But for me it’s not just about that. It’s about how much you can add to the group. I think Tuesday was a great example for that.”