Oxford United manager Karl Robinson has heaped praise on midfielder Alex Rodriguez Gorrin, calling the Spaniard a ‘phenomenal’ signing.
The 26-year-old, who arrived from Motherwell in the summer, has been an integral part of Robinson’s side. And although his teammates have picked up the headlines, the U’s boss feels none have made as important an impact as the Spaniard.
He told Oxford Mail: “While we’re all talking about Tariqe (Fosu) and Matty Taylor getting the accolades, James Henry signing a new deal and Cameron Brannagan scoring goals, the one person that gels most of our good play together is Alex Gorrin. He is a phenomenal signing for this club.”
Despite picking up four yellow cards in his opening four appearances, the midfielder has adapted to life in England hasn’t received a fifth yellow.
And it’s that appetite to learn that has impressed Robinson, who added: “Does he frustrate me and do silly things? Yes, but he’s the hardest-working man I’ve coached and he’s so desperate to do well.
“I can’t get this boy out of my head because of how good he’s been this year.
“I’ll sometimes come in on a day off and he’s out there with a bag of balls on his own.
“We finished training the other week and I was looking for him for a meeting, but he had joined in with the under 18s.”
The biggest bonus for United is Gorrin remains under the radar.
“I was sat at a game the other week and I was speaking to someone at a Championship club,” Robinson said.
“He asked who has been my best player and I said Alex had been one of the best.
“The guy didn’t know who he was, which shows how good the recruitment was in the summer.
“We only had some small competition from Sunderland, but other than that it was quite an easy one to get done. We’re very thankful he’s here.”
Gorrin has made sixteen starts this season, providing two assists, and scored his only goal in a pre-season defeat against QPR.
