Ruel Sotiriou on Bristol Rovers play-off ambitions, goal targets and why he left Leyton Orient..By Daniel Hargraves
Ruel Sotiriou has had a frustrating start to life at Bristol Rovers but is now back in contention despite continuing to build up his fitnessi2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article9499985.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_JS342599351.jpgIt's fair to suggest that Ruel Sotiriou's start to life at Bristol Rovers has been one of frustration. The 23-year-old was one of the most highly-anticpated summer signings with the Gas' need for options alternative to Chris Martin up front a paramount priority for the transfer window. However, after just one friendly appearance, the arrival from Leyton Orient found himself injured.
There was a feeling of, 'here we go again' when Matt Taylor revealed that the forward was facing a race against time to be fit for Rovers' League One opener at home to Northampton Town having suffered a calf tear following the extensive amount of injury claims that arose over the course of last season.
As pre-season concluded, the Cyprus international had 45 minutes of friendly action against non-league Melksham Town to his name, meaning that he was always going to play catch up in the early stages of the new campaign, regardless of whether he was fit enough for the opening day or not.
Sotiriou narrowly missed out for the 1-0 win over the Cobblers but was able to come on from the bench three days later in the 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Cardiff City and then start last weekend's goalless draw at Rotherham United.
The forward didn't have much of a sniff in front of goal in what was a tough match for the Gas, playing 48 minutes with Taylor admitting he should have just been taken off at half-time at the New York Stadium. Three days later, the 23-year-old got another 45 minutes into his tank with a lively display in the second half of Rovers' 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s which saw him scrape the post as well as the side-netting and roof of the net.
Eager to make an impression in BS7 after 10 years at Orient, Sotiriou is his own harshest critic amid possessing high hopes for himself and his new teammates.
"I want to score more goals than I did last year. I should have scored more and that's why I came here," the forward admitted. "I feel we create a lot more chances so that's why I came here and hopefully I can score more goals.
"I didn't come here for no reason. I saw the squad and the staff. We've got some top players. Obviously, we've got the experienced ones, Scotty, Chrissy, Willo, all these players have played higher as well and we've got some young, exciting players. I feel like we can push for the play-offs. Why not?
"You don't want to settle for mid-table. No one goes into a season and wants to settle for that because what's the point of playing? So aim high, if we don't achieve it then keep building. There's nothing wrong with that.
"It was really annoying," Sotiriou added on his injury. "I never really got injured. The last few years I've played most of the matches so it was a surprise. But yeah, I'm glad to be back and hopefully get fit and stronger."
With 11 goals and five assists in League One, 12 strikes across all competitions, last season for an Orient side that impressed in their first year back in the third tier, finishing 11th, there's naturally high hopes for Sotiriou amongst the Gas faithful.
Although he didn't quite get his first goal for the club on Tuesday, there were promising signs as the 23-year-old continues to work his way towards full fitness.
He's not wrong in the sense that he hardly gets injured too. The forward featured in 42 of Orient's 46 league matches last season, playing in both games against the Gas, with a variety of positions in his arsenal.
In the one-cap Cyprus international's own words, his favoured position depends on formation with a role just behind the striker preferred if there's one up top but partnering in a two is also a favourite for the forward.
Regarding competition, Promise Omochere arrived at the club a couple of weeks after Sotiriou as Rovers' club-record signing while Chris Martin is now available having also endured a frustrating pre-season after picking up an injury in the 3-0 win at Yeovil Town. The Gas are understood to be pushing for another option in attack before the transfer window closes but they do have options. However, the current frustration is that none of them are fully fit.
As one of 14 new arrivals to date though, Sotiriou will understandably need time to full embrace his new surroundings and embed into the set up in BS7. But, as has been the response of those of his fellow summer signings when asked the question, being one of many fresh faces acts as a catalyst for that settling in process while the decision to choose Rovers after a decade at Brisbane Road seemed relatively straightforward.
"I think we were lucky as new boys because there were so many of us so we got along quite easily," Sotiriou declared. "There were a lot of us in the hotel and in the same apartment block now and the lads here have been top drawer so it's been easy, yeah.
"I spoke to the manager but to be honest, George [Friend] really sold it to me because I met him and I feel like it's a good project with the signings as well. Everyone is in and around my age or even younger so I feel like there's a lot we can build on. This club is going places."
In July, Orient boss Richie Wellens suggested in an interview that Sotiriou was being paid 40 per cent more than their highest-earner at Rovers but the forward himself claimed that his move along the M4 was for reasons far bigger.
Having spent a decade in East London since the age of 13, the now-23-year-old declared he was in need of a fresh start, adding: "That was a big part to be honest. "I had been there for 10 years and I needed a change. I spoke to Richie and, not that I can't go again but I needed a new motivation and then George sold me the club really well and that's why I came here."
The summer arrival is undoubtedly in contention to start Rovers' next game at Stockport County on Saturday, which also marks the forward's 24th birthday. Sotiriou currently finds himself in ones of those typical situations for strikers where once he gets the first goal, the rest will follow seemlessly. Admittedly, it feels as though that maiden strike for the Gas is coming and this weekend's trip to Edgely Park could be the best game to find it.
