Doncaster Rovers: '˜The Beest' has bulked up!

And assistant boss Gavin Strachan has doffed his cap to the continued physical and mental development of Alfie Beestin.

The 20-year-old’s season has been disrupted by injury but he returned with an impressive cameo against Portsmouth last week.

And Strachan says there are signs that the former Tadcaster Albion forward can go on and make more of an impact throughout the season.

“It was frustrating because we thought after the Grimsby game in the Checkatrade Trophy that he’d arrived, he looked really good, and then he got an injury a couple of days after,” said Strachan.

“But we’ve got a lot of belief in him and his teammates have got a lot of belief in him.

“He’s really worked hard at the physical side of his game, he’s done a lot of work with Ben Rome [fitness coach].

“When he came he was such a scrawny lad and he’d never been in this sort of environment.

“So credit to him and how he’s looking after his body. He’s progressing well. He did well when he came on against Portsmouth and that can only bode well for him.”

Beestin will get another chance to impress when Rovers host Scunthorpe United in the Checkatrade Trophy next Tuesday.

He made eight senior appearances last season and scored on his debut at Mansfield.

Rovers host Walsall tonight in the first round of the FA Youth Cup (7pm).