Brown was involved in getting Balanta to sign!! Here is what Brown has said about Balanta and Balanta said about himself. Rovers defender Lee Brown believes a fully-fit-and-firing Angelo Balanta could become one of the best players in the Vanarama Conference. Balanta, 25, marked his long-awaited debut by coming off the bench to score the winning goal as Rovers claimed a stoppage-time winner over Barnet at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night. The former QPR winger has endured a frustrating three months since arriving at the Memorial Stadium at the start of September after suffering a thigh strain, but Brown, who came through the youth ranks at Loftus Road at the same time, said: "I was so pleased that it was Angelo that scored that goal for us on Tuesday night. He's had a difficult summer trying to find a club and it was just great to finally see him get a chance to give everybody here a small glimpse of what he can offer. I was with him the whole time through the youth ranks at QPR and I don't think I have played alongside many better players on the ball than Angelo. He could have three or four players around him, but, when he has the ball at his feet, nothing fazes him. I know that things didn't work out for him at QPR in the end and he was released, but when he texted me in the summer to ask if there would be any possibility of coming to Rovers in the summer I couldn't quite believe it. The manager asked me for my thoughts on Angelo over the summer and I didn't hesitate in giving him a glowing recommendation because a player of his ability can be the difference between winning and not winning promotion. That's how highly I rate him." Clarke, however, is expected to continue to use the skilful forward player sparingly from the bench while he continues in his bid to return to full match fitness, but Balanta said: "When or if I will start games is not a question I can answer. I want to play as many games as I can, but who plays and who doesn't is up to the manager. The only way I'll get real match fitness is by playing games so I'm keen to play as often as I can. I'm just happy to have finally made a contribution after having a slow start to my time here. It has been a slow start, but that is all behind me now. You can't ask for much more that scoring a goal in your first game when you come off the bench. I've got twenty minutes under my belt now so it is onwards and upwards for me from here. The team has been doing well and that makes things a little easier for a player like me who is feeling his way in. There is a winning mentality around the place and the boys have been very welcoming. There are a few good teams in the Conference and we are one of them. Barnet was a big win for us because they were threatening to run away with it and it is important that us and the other teams in the promotion places keep the pressure on them."
Seems like an excellent bit of business. And great that he has a good friend at the club like Lee Brown.
