New Iron forward Kevin van Veen cannot wait to get started at his new club after signing from FC Oss on Friday.
The 23-year-old forward joins United on a three-and-a-half year deal but he will not be involved in Saturday’s trip to Leyton Orient.The 6ft 1in striker has been prolific for his club this season, netting 16 times in 20 appearances and, despite interest from other clubs, he is delighted to join Scunthorpe and revealed his new manager was key in securing his services.
When asked what attracted him to joining United, van Veen told The Iron Player: “The manager Mark Robins (was important) and the club is moving up.
“I have had a lot of contact with Lee Turnbull, he has been watching me in the Netherlands for a long time.”
He arrived at FC Oss in the summer, playing in the second tier of football in the Netherlands, and he hit the ground running to continue his development since leaving PSV Eindhoven at youth team level and he feels can be a success in English football.
“Holland is a really good land for football and it is not as physical as it is in England,” he stated.
“We play really good football and I need some weeks or months to fit in and I hope to do well here.
“I started from the amateurs and every year I made one step further and this season I played in the second-highest division (the Jupiler League) and did really well so a lot of clubs came in for me and I am happy to sign for Scunthorpe.”
The Dutchman spent some time in England over the winter months as Robins and his staff sold the club, its vision and the Football League to van Veen, who hopes he can adapt to the physicality of the division.
“I saw Doncaster v Sheffield United (earlier in the season),” he continued.
“It is really fast compared to football in Holland - fast and physical. In Holland it is only fast so I will have to get on the weights and score a lot of goals.”
He is keen to get started with his new club and he gave his reasoning for choosing United over the other interested parties, some of which he says were in a higher tier.
“I wanted to train today but I have to fly back to the Netherlands and I will come back on Monday evening and start training on Tuesday,” he added.
“The plans for Scunthorpe going up is better than going to a club that could be going down from the Championship.
“I want to be successful here and help Scunthorpe get to the Championship.”
See much more from Kevin van Veen and Mark Robins on The Iron Player.