Salford City have recalled defender Kevin Berkoe from his successful loan spell at Rochdale.
Berkoe made 12 appearances for the Dale, keeping five clean sheets and picking up two assists for the National League side, including one in their 1-0 win over Aldershot last Saturday, which left them just one point off top spot.
Berkoe last appeared for the Ammies in September, playing 77 minutes in their 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic in the Vertu Trophy.
The versatile defender was included in Salford’s matchday squad on Saturday and played 25 minutes as Karl Robinson’s side succumbed to their second successive defeat away at high-flying Bromley.
Berkoe said: “It was a really good experience, I was loving it there. Good football, good people, good environment. It was good to be involved in chasing promotion (from the National League).
Before the Wigan game I don’t think I’d played for a couple weeks because something happened to my hamstring, so I was resting for whenever my opportunity came. The opportunity came to go on loan and that was good.
“I feel good mentally, physically, they’ve put me in a good position, playing almost every game, so I feel like I’m match sharp, match fit and long may that continue.
“I played as a left-wing back, higher up. Rochdale have most of the ball every game so it was a good way to express myself up the pitch as well as being good defensively.”
The spell marked the fourth time Berkoe has been on loan from Salford, having previously spent time with Telford United, Altrincham, Maidstone United and Woking away from the Ammies. The 24-year-old spent most of his youth career at Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as trialling for Sunderland.
“The team’s been flying, we’ve got good players this season. The gaffer’s trying to up it a notch. We’re trying to chase promotion and I think we could do it this season.”
The weekend’s result left Salford in 12th in a tight League Two, leaving them four points off the automatic places and one point off the playoffs.
The Ammies are set to host 19th-placed Crawley Town on Saturday, with kickoff at 3pm, as they look to reignite their promotion push.
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