Scott Hogan: Rochdale striker 'affected by transfer speculation'

Rochdale boss Keith Hill says striker Scott Hogan is back on top form after revealing the player had been affected by speculation over his future.

League One side Peterborough made a bid to sign Hogan, signed from non-league football last summer, in January.

The 21-year-old netted his first Football League hat-trick in Saturday's 3-0 win at AFC Wimbledon.

"He's happy the window's closed, he's happy nobody's hassling and he's happy to be playing football," said Hill.

He told BBC Radio Manchester: "That's what he wanted to do for Rochdale and score as many goals as he possibly can.

"I've been very frustrated because one of my key players hasn't been able to play because of the pressure he's been put under. His head hasn't been in the right place but, as you could see on Saturday, he's playing happy."

Hogan now has 15 goals in 32 appearances for Dale, who are fourth in League Two, although his treble at Kingsmeadow were his first league goals of 2014.