The midfielder was one of two deadline day signings made by the Championship outfit
New Hull City signing Darko Gyabi has praised the impact of Wayne Rooney on his career as he looks to now make his mark at the MKM Stadium.
The talented England Under-21 international played 58 times for Argyle while on loan from Leeds United, but made a permanent switch to City on deadline day earlier this month when the Tigers negotiated his release from Elland Road and made his debut in the closing stages of Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Swansea City.
Rooney brought Gyabi back for a second spell at Plymouth Argyle 12 months ago, and while the England legend was ultimately sacked at Home Park and replaced by Miron Muslic in January, the 21-year-old still holds his former boss in high regard.
“I think Wayne Rooney was very helpful for me when I was with him,” Gyabi told Hull Live. “He gave me the belief in my abilities to trust and play me,” the 21-year-old told Hull Live.
“On the training pitch, I think everybody knows the quality that he’s had, and I’ll do sessions with him where I’d speak to him after what he saw in my game as a midfielder and what I could add. He was really, really helpful for me with the belief that he had in me, with the confidence; he almost told me to believe in myself even more and trust what I’ve got.
“He always pushed me to do more and expected more of me, which I think helped me. He was really, really helpful, and I can’t say anything bad about him.”
Despite Gyabi playing a pivotal role for the Pilgrims, Muslic couldn’t keep the Devon-based club in the Championship and they were relegated back to League One after a couple of seasons in the second tier.
Gyabi says he’s better for those experiences, as tough as they were, and admits he’s learnt a great deal by being out on loan at Home Park.
“It was difficult for everyone, including me, with the outcome of last season,” he continued. “I feel like we were so close. If we had more games towards the back end of the season, maybe we could have stayed up, and it would have been a different outcome. I’ve learned that there are margins and there are details that can change how the season ends or what happens in football.
“Everything’s important. Coming in every day, making sure that you can be the best version of yourself, but just knowing that you get what you put in as well, so I feel like that’s something that I’ve learned in terms of professional football, so it’s something I’ll keep in mind.”
Gyabi will now face a battle to earn his spot in the middle of Sergej Jakirovic’s midfield, coming up against the likes of John Lundstram, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Matt Crooks and Regan Slater, while Eliot Matazo is expected back around Christmas.
There may be signifcant competition in the Tigers’ engine room, but it’s something the London-born youngster is relishing and he looks to continue his development.
“I’m humble enough to know that there are players who’ve had more experience than me, and I also want to learn from those players because I think if I can add what they’ve learned in their career to my game, I can only get better,” he explained.
“That’s the aim, but yes, of course also I can bring something to the team. I’ve got my qualities as well, so learning from them and then adding it to my qualities, so it can only take me to the top.”
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