ETIENNE Esajas sees his move to Swindon Town as a turning point in his career.

The Dutch winger finalised a two-year deal at the County Ground yesterday, bringing an end to a somewhat difficult 12 months for the former Sheffield Wednesday man.

On leaving the Yorkshire club in the summer of last year, Esajas struggled with fitness and failed to earn a contract with any of several sides with whom he spent time on trial.

Eventually he opted to sign on at Helmond Sport in his native Holland, although he was unhappy with his situation there, but appeared just nine times during last season.

But after agreeing terms with Town, Esajas told the Advertiser the chance to start again in English football with the Robins presents the best possible opportunity to immerse himself in the game once again.

And he is ready to grab that chance with both hands.

“I’m happy to sign a deal. I play football and I love football and now it’s up to me to work hard and show everybody that I can be the player that everybody thinks I am,” he said.

“I came from Sheffield Wednesday and we got relegated so the manager had to get rid of a lot of players, and I was one of those players.

“I was with a couple of teams like Glasgow Rangers but it didn’t work out.

“I had to settle for a deal in Holland because the season was already started so I wasn’t really happy about it but I had to keep my head down and I worked hard.

“I need to show the manager (Paolo Di Canio) that he trusts in me so I need to give the trust back.”

Esajas speaks glowingly about the English game.

Having spent time both in the Football League and its Dutch cousin, the wide man is emphatic about where he would rather ply his trade.

And he believes at Swindon Town he can achieve, both as an individual and as part of a developing team.

“I’m from Holland but if I compare English football to Dutch football, it’s so different.

“I love it. Just the atmosphere, the fans are great. In Holland it’s all about technique and there’s not a lot of hard work, not a lot of running and you do just enough.

“The team is lovely, I love the guys. They work hard for each other and we only know about one thing - it’s about Swindon Town.

“There’s one gaffer and he wants to be on top so we have to do that.”

And Esajas has further motivation to succeed, with a young family relying on him at home.

The 27-year-old has a three-month-old daughter to support, and he said that fact alone inspires him to play hard every day.

“I’ve got a little one now and I need to do it for her and for my missus. It’s all about my family,” he said.

“If I do my job and get on top of my game then I’ll be able to do it for them.

“Hopefully as soon as I get an apartment or a house I’ll be able to move them here. Hopefully I’m looking to do that this week.”