Darren Moore lays out the next step for '100-per-center' Tom Anderson at Doncaster Rovers

The centre half this week extended his contract until the summer of 2022, coming after a stand out showing over the first half of the campaign.

Boss Darren Moore has urged Anderson to maintain the standards he has set so far.

“The big thing for him is that we’re not quite at the halfway stage of the season so can he do it over the full course of the season?” Moore said.

“If he can maintain his performances that he is delivering now over the full course of the season, it’ll definitely be one where him as an individual and a player would have improved immensely and he would have given leadership and direction at the football club if his performances stay the way they are.

“The message to Tom is that he has to keep going.”

One of the major areas where Anderson has improved this term has been his work on the ball as he has adapted to Moore’s desire to play out from the back.

But the Rovers boss says it should not be overlooked how much the 26-year-old has developed his defensive qualities also.

And he believes Anderson is already capable of playing at a higher level.

“What Tom is I would say is a robust, no-nonsense centre back but given time and space on the ball he’ll play forward,” Moore said.

“He’s got direction to his play, which is really pleasing and that has been a side that he has improved.

“There’s been a side off the ball as well, with positional sense where he’s seeing things early.

“Sometimes Tom makes things look a lot easier than they are and that is because he is switched on and he knows. He sees things early and gets himself into position really early.

“There’s things to his game that, if you’ve not got a trained eye, he’s making them look simpler and easier because he’s got into the right place at the right time.

“The one thing I like about him is that he’s a 100-per-center. He does what it says on the tin.

“But with that as well, he wants to add certain things to his game because he knows if you’re going to operate at this level, you have to be the best at it.

“That then shows that you’re ready to step up to the next level and that is doing things now that wouldn’t look out of place at the next level.

“We’re pleased with him.”