Pablo Mills says he will give absolutely everything for the Cheltenham Town cause during his loan spell from Bury.
The 30-year-old defender or holding midfielder has signed a deal until the end of the season and is expected to go straight into the side to face Tranmere Rovers at home on Saturday (Red and White Day).
He has regained fitness after an injury picked up in December and is eagerly anticipating his return to competitive action at Whaddon Road.
“I have been back in training for three weeks and the manager told me Cheltenham were interested so I jumped at the chance,” Mills said.
“I’d played every game for Bury up to when I got injured, so it was a shock at first, but playing games is more important that sitting and waiting for your chance.
“I’ll be giving my all for the club like I have at every one I’ve been at and we’ll see what the future brings.
“My best position is centre-half, but I will give 100 per cent wherever I am playing and I can also do a job as a defensive midfielder.”
Mills has enjoyed promotion from League Two with Crawley Town and he said success in the division is all about character and the ability to battle for points.
“You need good team spirit, a will to win and good, strong characters,” he said.
“When you are in this league you have to grind out results and it’s about fighting as much as playing football.
“If you can get a balance between the two you’ll have a good chance of getting results.”
Mills was in the Bury team beaten 1-0 by the Robins at Gigg Lane on the opening day of the season and he is surprised to see them struggling near the foot of the table with 14 games remaining.
“The season has not gone to plan, but hopefully me and the other experienced lads who’ve arrived this week (Matt Sparrow and Shaun Harrad) can bring a voice and a calmness to help the club fight their way out of this predicament they find themselves in,” he said.
“The manager said he wants me to be a voice and try to help as much as I can, so that’s what I’ll do.”
Mills said his best position was centre-half, but he is also capable of doing a job as a defensive midfielder.
He progressed through the ranks at Derby County when Steve Elliott was in the Rams’ backline and the pair played together in the Championship.
“I was a youth team player when Stevie was in the first team and then I caught him up and played alongside him,” Mill said.
“He was always a strong character and someone I looked up to at Derby.”
* Mills was born in Birmingham on May 27, 1984. The former England youth international has also played for MK Dons and Walsall on loan, and Macclesfield Town.
When Crawley visited Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round, Mills was named man of the match, also earning a place in the Conference team of the year in 2010/11.
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