Latics links in Dale signings

ROCHDALE will have two new faces in the squad travelling to MK Dons tomorrow.

Former Athletic and Bolton defender Dean Holden penned a loan deal yesterday as Neal Trotman moved in the opposite direction after a torrid few months at Spotland.

The big defender, sent off at Boundary Park earlier in the campaign, struggled for form and fitness and agreed to start again with Chesterfield under former Athletic boss John Sheridan, for whom he played while at Boundary Park.

Holden's arrival coincided with the loan signing of Manchester City striker Harry Bunn.

The 19-year-old has been a prolific scorer in the Blues' youth teams and makes the step up to senior football under the watchful eye of father Frankie, the former Athletic striker who is assistant to Eyre at Dale.

“Harry’s talent is widely recognised and we have had to fight off interest from Championship clubs and League One rivals to bring him to Rochdale,” said Dale boss Steve Eyre.

“He’s a strong front man, puts himself about and scores goals. I won’t say too much about him because I’ll let Harry’s performances do the talking.

Dale go into tomorrow’s game against Karl Robinson’s promotion contenders as underdogs – but that does not concern Eyre.

He said: “It doesn’t matter to us.

We genuinely believe we are not too far away and we have a lot of belief in our players.”