Bristol Rovers midfielder Erhun Oztumer says he’s eager to face his old side as the Gas look to get back to winning ways ahead of their FA Cup first-round clash at Walsall.
The 29-year-old signed for the Pirates on a season long loan deal on October 15th from Charlton Athletic, but despite making four appearances as a substitute, the creative midfielder is yet to make his full first-team debut.
“I’ve been waiting on the sidelines patiently for my chance so now I’m raring to go”, Oztumer said ahead of Rovers' trip to the Midlands.
“It’s only been three weeks since I got here so I think the gaffer just wanted to ease me in, show me the way we play and what our strengths are.
"I’ve taken a lot of information in from the team and the staff so if I do start [at Walsall] then hopefully I can play well and keep a hold of that starting shirt.”
Oztumer became one of Walsall’s key players while representing the club from 2016 to 2018, scoring 30 goals in 86 games for the Saddlers while they were in League One.
The on-loan Rovers playmaker says he’s excited to return to the Banks's Stadium, even if there aren’t any fans there to welcome him back.
“It’s the FA Cup so it’s a big game of course and everybody wants to do well. We’re playing against my former club where I had two really good years so I’m excited to go back to the stadium, see some familiar faces and play a good game.
“It’s a little bit upsetting to go back but have no fans in the stadium to be honest. I had a good relationship with the fans and used to live in Walsall so I’d see them on the streets, so yeah it is a bit annoying to not have them there but we’ve got to just get on with it.”
Although many say the FA Cup isn’t what it once was, Oztumer says he still values the competition and sees it as a great opportunity for players in the lower leagues.
“I still think the FA Cup is great, it would be better with fans in (the stands), but once you get into the later stages you could come up against a Premier League side away and that’s what we all want, playing on the biggest stage. Personally, for me I value the competition as a very big opportunity.”
Looking ahead, the midfielder expresses his desire to make major contributions to the team as the Gas look to bounce back to winning ways under Ben Garner.
“The last time I played in League One I scored 15 goals in both seasons at Walsall, so that’s the aim again. I’m a little bit behind at the moment but I just want to enjoy my football again. My time at Walsall was brilliant, so I just want to do the same as I did there with Bristol Rovers.”
