Could loanee Tariqe Fosu see himself being a Rotherham United player next season?

TARIQE Fosu certainly isn’t saying he’s going to be a Rotherham United player next season.

Happily, he’s not ruling out the prospect either.

The 27-year-old Brentford attacker has made a huge impression since his loan move to AESSEAL New York Stadium in January’s transfer window.

Millers supporters have taken a shine to his impish darts, that lovely close control and those clever little passes that don’t go far but completely open up opposition defences.

He’s out of contract at the end of the season and unlikely to be offered a new deal by the Premier League Bees, so I asked the question ...

“I’m not really thinking about that,” he replied last Tuesday evening after starring in the 2-1 win home over Sunderland. “I just want to keep performing.

“It’s important to stay focused on playing well. When you start thinking about things in the future it can be a bit of a distraction. I’ll keep working hard and then we’ll see what happens in the summer.”

There’s one subject, however, that he’s prepared to address with a greater degree of certainty: he reckons Rotherham will still be a Championship side at the close of the campaign.

“We definitely have what it takes to stay in the division,” he said. “We have to keep believing and we have to have resilience.

“Tonight we showed massive character against a team that have been doing well. It’s there in us. We can do it.”

The former Charlton Athletic and Oxford United man is equally comfortable on the wing — as a right-footer cutting in from the left — or in midfield and has performed with distinction in both roles so far for the Millers.

“I’m enjoying it here,” he said. “The gaffer is very positive and gives me a lot of confidence to go out and show what I can do. The more games I play, the better I’m feeling physically. I feel in good shape.

“I do like playing on the wing but I enjoy it in midfield as well. I played a bit for Brentford in the middle.”

The Black Cats clash saw him operate centrally with Ollie Rathbone and Conor Coventry and the Milers won the midfield battle against opponents who had arrived in South Yorkshire in fifth spot.

“Winning games is about game-management,” Fosu said. “You need to know when to mix it up. Sometimes you go long when we have to, sometimes you get it down and play when you have to.

“Today we did both. The goals came from being calm on the ball and picking somebody out. The goals were taken very well.

“This is my favourite game so far. I’m happy, especially as it was in front of the home fans. Sunderland are a good side so this should give us massive confidence and belief. Sunderland are a good side.”

The Wandsworth-born Ghana international looked tired but contented in the New York media suite, flashing a big, satisfied grin after a victory that had restored momentum following a double-defeat stutter for Matt Taylor’s men.

“I’m very passionate,” he said. “When I get on the pitch, I want to win.

“Whatever it takes in the game, I have to do it.

“Everyone works hard. If someone misses a tackle, a teammate is going to be there. It’s something I’ve noticed since coming here: everyone backs each other up. That shows the spirit in the team.”

It’s a team in which he’s quickly become a key figure. When he’s in possession, good things happen.

The player had talked about the goals against the Black Cats coming from being calm on the ball. What he’d modestly neglected to mention was that it was him who’d played the key passes to set them up for Rathbone and Shane Ferguson.

He wasn’t the best with figures — he thought he’d just featured in his fourth Millers match when it was actually his sixth — but two assists were adding up very nicely indeed.

We can worry about next season later. For now, Fosu is doing just fine in this one.