When Elliot Anderson signed for Bristol Rovers, Connor Taylor knew a fine talent was headed to BS7. The pair had faced on in youth football for Newcastle United and Stoke City respectively, and Anderson was "the player" pre-match preparation focused on.
The same is becoming true at the senior level, with Anderson turning in a stellar run of performances for Joey Barton's Gas, playing his part in a surge into promotion contention.
The 19-year-old has scored sublime goals in successive games to help Rovers into the League Two play-off places and Taylor is not in the least bit surprised that his fellow loan star is making such a significant impact in the blue and white quarters.
"I’ve played against him a couple of times and he was always the player you’d focus on in match analysis," Taylor revealed. "He’s come here and he’s been different gravy.
"I think it’s his arrogance on a football pitch. He really believes in himself and that’s the biggest thing when you come out on loan. He’s come here and he wants to prove a point and he’s certainly doing that.
"He can do anything, really. He’s strong enough to hold the ball and roll defenders, dribble at players, score good goals and he’s been top drawer for us.
"It wasn’t just his goal, there were a couple of moments where you’re stood there and you can’t believe how he’s managed to get in the positions he does. And it’s not just him, we’ve got numerous players who have produced goals and moments like that and that is a testament to the lads in the dressing room."
Taylor has been outstanding for Rovers on his first EFL loan move from Stoke, missing just one game since the start of September. His play with head and feet has been hugely impressive, playing his part in the 13 clean sheets Rovers have kept this season.
His form has reached a higher peak since the arrival of James Connolly on loan from Cardiff City in January. The pair, both aged 20, may lack senior experience but they have formed a solid rearguard with Luca Hoole, Nick Anderton and goalkeeper James Belshaw.
Taylor, who has made 33 league appearances for Rovers, believes the duo's faith in each other is what has solidified their partnership at the heart of the defence.
"Age doesn’t really matter," he said. "We trust each other, we’re both competent on the ball and we trust that we’ll back each other up. If one player misses a header or a tackle, the other will be sweeping around.
"It’s the same with Luca and Nick at the minute, everyone is covering each other and if anyone makes a mistake, you bail them out. That’s the culture we’ve got in the dressing room, everyone wants to help out."
Taylor believes that culture runs right through the squad, with not a single player shirking their responsibilities in each third of the pitch, demonstrated by the likes of Aaron Collins and Antony Evans tracking back and mucking in defensively against Colchester United on Tuesday.
"It’s not just their ability on the ball, it’s off the ball as well," Taylor said. "You see Antony towards the end, he’s sprinting back in the 90 th minute to make a big tackle on the edge of the box.
"I think that sends a big message out to the opposition that our flair players and scorers are willing to chip in at the back end of the pitch. It’s not just the back four and Belly that are contributing to the clean sheets, it’s the whole team.
"We press from the front and win the ball back high, forcing mistakes. It’s not just the quality on the ball, off the ball we’ve been brilliant."
Tuesday's win over Colchester moved Rovers into the top seven for the first time this season and Taylor is sure that no complacency will creep into Rovers' game. Instead, he feels they are well equipped to handle the pressure the final nine games of the season will bring.
He said: "We’re not alien to it, we know where we are in the league now and we know what our goal is, but we’re treating every game like a cup final, like we have to win every single game we go into and nothing less is accepted.
"The lads are really buying into that. You should go into any game of football to win it, but we’re making it a habit and once you get into the winning habit it’s hard to stop and we’re only getting stronger.
"The gaffer has said numerous times he thinks we’ve got more to come and other teams might start falling away, but we feel like we’re only getting stronger.
"The main thing with the team at the minute is everyone trusts each other and there is a really good team spirit in the dressing room, and that comes down from the skipper to the youngest lad in the dressing room.
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"Everyone is buying into what the gaffer wants and we’re doing anything to win games of football."
There was concern for Taylor's health after he was withdrawn from the squad at Oldham Athletic six weeks ago due to heart palpitations. The 20-year-old had already been diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia, which Rovers medical department insists is a minor issue that is under constant observation.
Surgery could be an option in the summer if the medical experts deem fit, but Taylor is focused solely on his football.
"It’s nothing too serious and I’ll just carry on until the end of the season," he said.
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