Everyone performs better at work when they feel wanted, don't they?

If you feel under the microscope and as though you aren't fully trusted, it's not the environment that will bring the best in you.

Without saying it in as many words, that was the impression left by Lewis Baker as he sat down with the local and national media this week. 

The midfielder is not short of pedigree and at 29, has buckets to offer in the Championship. Schooled in the Chelsea Academy, he was tipped to be an England international.

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Whilst he hasn't quite hit those heights, he has a firm admirer in John Eustace. The Rovers head coach wanted to sign Baker from the start and that enthusiasm fed through and made the decision to leave Stoke a relatively straight forward one, for Baker.

"Yeah, it's been a hectic few days, putting names to faces and plenty of people to meet," he says.

Baker is quite softly spoken, he doesn't come across as a screamer or a shouter but someone who is thoughtful and driven. People can lead in different ways.

"It works two ways when you're at a new place, you're getting to grips with how the manager works, how the team works and what the culture is.

"I'm getting to know my team-mates, everyone wants to play all the time but it's a good period to get my feet under the table.

"There were a few conversations between the clubs earlier in the summer, the Stoke gaffer explained that I might not be involved as much as I'd like. Then I had to find the right place for me to come and enjoy my football.

"It was going to be in bit parts and when this opportunity came up and to work with this gaffer, I jumped at it. There were conversations earlier in the window but it went quiet and then picked up in the last week of the window.

"It's a massive 12 months for me. I try not to look too far into the future because I want to improve by half a per cent every day.

"Whilst I'm here, I'll try and do everything to repay the gaffer for the faith he's shown in me."

It's a big 12 months for Baker, as he concedes himself. He will be out of contract with Stoke City in 2025 and will have hit 30. Rightly or wrongly, that landmark can often make it harder to attract suitors.

But a positive season at Rovers and he'll have plenty of offers, including from Ewood Park. He feels everything is set up for a successful season, personally and collectively.

"Coming into an unbeaten team is good going. It's been a good start from the lads in the league but we want to build momentum," he explains.

"A successful season for any team is getting into the big time but it's never as easy as that. Driving standards is a key component for that.

"It's going to be a rollercoaster, like any Championship season, up and down. I feel like the togetherness here is pretty strong between players, staff and the fans. It's a strong culture.

"It's always easier coming into somewhere where somebody wants you. After speaking to a few people, lads that have worked with him prior, everyone has only had positive things to say.

"That was a big factor. The main one is going somewhere that the manager wants you. If the manager has confidence in you, it gives you a platform to go and show that.

"It's a great group, it's been very easy to settle, everyone has been very welcome. It's important to have that competition, if you're driving each other on a day-to-day basis, it prepares everyone for game day."