The summer signing spree started on Friday with the news that Dale manager Keith Hill had secured the services of Grimsby Town midfielder Ciaran Toner on a one year contract.

Toner appears to be exactly the sort of player that Hill was alluding to in his interviews earlier this week. In his interviews, he made reference to signing players at the top of the game, who were around the 27 year old mark, who he felt could take Dale to that next level.

Toner is predominantly a central midfielder, though he is equally comfortable on the left wing. He's been described as being technically gifted by fans of his former sides, with perhaps more still to come from him. 

An added bonus will be that he will bring so much needed height to the squad. We lacked height at many stages last season, perhaps a factor in our lack of goals from set pieces, and another tall player can only be beneficial.

Toner comes to the club with perhaps the tag of "much travelled". Despite being 26, Dale will be his eighth club in his professional career, which started as an apprentice with Tottenham.

He's been a regular in this division over the years with spells at Grimsby, Orient, Cambridge, Lincoln, Bristol Rovers and Peterborough. He's also picked up international honours with Northern Ireland, making two appearances against Italy and Spain.

With David Perkins suspended for the first four games of the season, it will be widely expected that Toner will kick off the season with a starting position - starting with a trip to Grimsby on the opening day of the season.

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