IT WOULD be hard not to live in the shadow of your Premier League playing brother – but Mitchell Rose says elder sibling Danny has helped him find his own slice of limelight at Mansfield.
Danny Rose became a £1million signing before he even kicked a ball with Leeds United after Tottenham Hotspur whisked the left-back away from the north as a 17-year-old.
Since then he’s hit an outrageous north London derby volley, played at the 2012 Olympics and has been called up to an England squad.
In contrast, Mitchell’s path hasn’t been quite so paved with gold.
After dealing with rejection as a youngster, a severe knee injury railroaded a promising start at Rotherham, and it’s taken three years for him to find his feet again.
Having signed up to the Stags in the summer, he’s already played more games this season than he had done in his entire professional career prior to his arrival.
And Rose, still only 21, insists that without his brother’s presence his dream may have died a long time ago.
“I’ve watched Danny play from a very young age at Leeds, and to see his development and where he is now is just an inspiration to me,” said Rose. “He is always a reminder that it’s going to take a lot of hard work and that everyone gets down, everyone gets discouraged and I was probably at one of my lowest points when I got released by Sheffield Wednesday when I was 15.
“But all those setbacks have shaped and moulded my character, and I don’t think I’d have worked as hard as I have done without a little bit of help from my brother along the way.
“Everyone wants to get to the top level, but as you get older you realise how tough it is to get there – having that older brother gives you a little push and I’m fortunate to have a Premier League footballer around me to give me a tiny advantage with words of advice.
“Every little bit of help I can get off someone who’s been there and done that is invaluable.”
Rose has gained another huge influence at Mansfield in manager Adam Murray, who started his career in the Premier League with Derby County before enjoying a long, if nomadic, career.
(Action Images / Jason Cairnduff)
The 33-year-old is still registered as a player at the Stags – though has not appeared for the first team since February – and Rose says he’s already benefitted from his manager’s midfield expertise immeasurably.
“He’s a young, ambitious manager – I could see that when I first spoke to him,” added Rose, who scored his first professional goal against Crawley last weekend.
“He told me exactly how I could make a difference to Mansfield this season and he played in the Premier League at a young age and had a successful career.
“I knew under his regime he would turn me into the type of player that I want to be in the future. He’s developed my game already, tactically I’ve come on. Predominantly I’d been a defensive midfielder or right-back, but he’s put me in more attacking positions in midfield.
“In the three months I’ve been with him I can feel how much I’ve already developed.”
Rose left Rotherham in March, but turned out for Evo-Stik Premier Division side Ilkeston at the end of the season as his move to Mansfield looked to be stuck in limbo.
He explained: “Because of uncertainty over whether Mansfield would be in the League this season, the manager (Adam Murray) said I should go to Ilkeston just to get games and match fit.
“When I came in on trial I wanted to sign straight away, but I really had to put things into perspective and wait for a chance, there are so many good players who don’t even have a club.
“It happens to a lot of people, not having a job and wondering whether you’ll have to give up what you’ve worked so hard for. I’m just so grateful it’s worked out.”
