- Oliver Whatmuff impressing on loan at Rochdale
- Club captain delighted by his form
- Makes claim about youngster’s future
Rochdale skipper Ethan Ebanks-Landell has spoken highly of Oliver Whatmuff after the club secured promotion to League Two.
Oliver Whatmuff joined Rochdale last summer, and it took no time at all for him to assert himself in the first-team.
Being just 17 years old at the time, Whatmuff kept a clean sheet on his National League debut against Boreham Wood.
Since then, the goalkeeper has gone on to have a very successful season, with Rochdale recently earning promotion to the Football League.
Rochdale captain makes Oliver Whatmuff claim
According to Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Whatmuff is ‘mature’, and already happens to be one of the best shot-stoppers he has played alongside.
In fact, Ebanks-Landell has already made a prediction about Whatmuff’s future, which involves the England national team.
As quoted on Man City’s official website, the captain said: “I think the fact that City let him come to us on loan shows how mature he already is.”
“We didn’t have to give him much, definitely not off the field, he’s very down to earth and grounded.
“On the pitch we just try to communicate as much as we can and him being directly behind me for most of the season we try to have as much communication as possible.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on him but I think he’ll play for England. I think he’s a top keeper, already one of the best players I’ve played with so far,” he continued.
“I wouldn’t say he’s good because he’s 18, he’s good because he’s good. So I think he’s got everything in his tool kit to get right to the top.”
Whatmuff feared the worst after Rochadale’s April heartbreak
It looked like Rochdale were going to achieve automatic promotion last month, after they scored in stoppage time against York City.
However, the eventual National League winners responded before full-time, forcing Whatmuff and his teammates to complete in the play-offs.
“It was just mad,” Whatmuff said, describing the moment.
“It is what it is, it’s football. You’ve just got to move on to the next one, the next moment. I think it showed how much it meant to us and the fans and I think I learnt that it’s more than just a game and how much it meant to the town.
“And how much it meant for us to be back where Rochdale belong, in the EFL. It’s gone way better than I thought it would be,” he continued.
“It’s shown me what football is about. Rochdale, I’ll always love the club and I’ll probably always be a Rochdale fan and it’s just a big fat thank you.”
Whatmuff has had an extraordinary season
It was in the National League play-off final that Whatmuff proved to be a hero for his team, making two saves in a penalty shootout.
In total, the 18-year-old kept 18 clean sheets across the season, which is impressive for anyone, let alone a player so young.
Already an England under-19s international, Whatmuff definitely has a lot of potential and he might just be representing the senior Three Lions one day.
