By Mark McCadden
Stephen Bradley has completed the signing of Ireland underage international Egor Vassenin – and he has hailed the defender as “one for now but also the future.”
Vassenin has joined from Klub Kildare and has signed professional terms with the Hoops.
He will go straight into Bradley’s first-team squad ahead of a busy run-in, with League of Ireland, FAI Cup and European commitments coming up.
The 17-year-old has represented the Boys in Green at Under-18 level and has been described by Bradley as having “real potential.”
The Hoops boss said: “Egor is someone that Glenn Cronin and I have seen quite regularly at Klub Kildare.
“We have a good relationship with Klub Kildare so as a result, Egor was able to come in and train with us for the last six months and he’s been excellent. He’s someone we really like and who we think has real potential.”
Bradley revealed that Vassenin joined up with Rovers during pre-season and impressed in a friendly appearance for the Premier Division leaders.
He said: “He’s a very good left-sided young defender with really good attributes and we’re delighted to have him in the group.
“He came away in pre-season with us and played 90 minutes in that position and did really well. He’s definitely a left back or left centre back.
“We really like what Egor has and has real potential.”
As for where Vassenin fits into Bradley’s plans midway through the season, the Rovers boss said: “Egor will have a bit of everything, but as we’re midway through our season, it’ll be interesting to see where he is in terms of the group.
“We know and we saw it in the game in pre-season, he’d be ready to play now, but with Egor’s age profile he’s one for now but also the future.
“It’s great to have him in the group and for him to be able to learn from our more established defenders.
“There’s nobody better to learn from than these players who’ve done it for many years. So, as I said, he’s one for now but definitely one for the future of the club also.”
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