Source: FOOTYMAD
Rovers hopeful of extending Arsenal loanee to end of season
Doncaster Rovers assistant manager Richard O'Kelly says that the Championship club hopes to extend Jay-Emmanuel Thomas' loan deal until the end of the season. The teenage midfielder moved to the Keepmoat Stadium from Arsenal for one month in late February and has notched three goals so far for the club.Rovers are 10th in the Championship table and could yet mount a push for the play-offs as the season nears its climax.And O'Kelly says any extension on his current deal would be a massive boost to the side."Originally his loan stay was just for a month, but there is an option there to extend that," he said. "However, a lot depends on whether Arsenal want him back there. The boy has enjoyed his spell here and settled in quickly."It is a lot more rural up here than the hustle and bustle of London, so it can take time to settle, but he has taken to it like a duck to water."We are pleased to have him and Arsenal were glad to send him here over a number of over clubs that were hoping to take him on loan."He is a cracking lad and has a great personality, which has slotted in well to what we already have here."Emmanuel-Thomas had to settle for a place on the bench in Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at home to table-topping Newcastle United at the Keepmoat Stadium.But O'Kelly was quick to stress that the 19 year-old, who came on as a second half substitute, had not been dropped from the Rovers team."He'd only played two games for Arsenal Reserves since Christmas before he came here," he said."But since he's been here he's been playing Saturday-Tuesday every week. He's only 19 years of age and although he looks like a man he is still physically developing."Part of the experience of Jay being here is making him aware of what is happening on the pitch. It is not just about playing games,"
