Lirak Hasani: Shields style of play will suit me

Lirak Hasani feels South Shields’ style of play will suit his game well after completing a season-long loan move from Gateshead.

The 21-year-old impressed against the Mariners in last week’s pre-season friendly between the sides, and will now spend the 2023-24 campaign at 1st Cloud Arena.

The Doncaster Rovers Academy graduate tasted Vanarama National League football in a loan spell with Boston United last season, and also made 20 appearances for Gateshead in 2022-23.

He has Football League appearances under his belt from his time at Doncaster, and has had previous loan stints with Basford United and Matlock Town.

After his move to Shields was confirmed, Hasani said: “I’m buzzing to be here. It’s a great opportunity for me to hopefully get games and play in a team that wants to play good football and score goals.

“It’s the club’s first season in this league, so it’s a good opportunity to make a print on the league and see how far we can go.

“It’s clearly a well-run club and I played at the stadium last week. With the pitch, the fans and everything surrounding it, it’s a big club for the area.

“Lots of people I spoke to had only good things to say about the set-up, the staff and the players, so when I heard about the interest it excited me.”

South Shields manager Julio Arca said: “Lirak is another player coming from a league above, and is a very technically gifted midfielder.

“He feeds balls through the lines, looks after possession well and finds good positions to receive the ball.

“He’s another different option for us in midfield, where it’s good for us to have a mix of players.”