However, it was clear right from the start that we had a more than adequate replacement. He made one of those wonder debuts, marking his first appearance with a goal, and he frightened anybody on the same pitch as him with his pace.

Whilst at City, he had been one of the leading lights in their youth team which had reached the Youth Cup final the year before, with Etuhu's goals sending them on his way. He had mostly been played as an out and out striker with City, before being reverted to a more traditional winger's roles.

And whilst he may have only made four appearances with Dale, he certainly made an impact with the club. Two goals from those four outings. He may have been a bit of a headless chicken at times, as he roamed all over the pitch, but his actual speed was up there with any player that we'd had at the club before.

His loan spell with the club was cut short when he picked up a medial ligament injury. However, it seemed that the club also had an impact on Etuhu, and he returned to Manchester City speaking very highly of all things Dale, and was reported to have voiced a wish to return on a season long loan to Dale. We shall see.

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