Doncaster Rovers boss Gary McSheffrey outlines his expectations for Liverpool loanee Max Woltman

That’s the plan of Rovers boss Gary McSheffrey – his new principle, as it were – who intends to gradually blood in the 19-year-old forward over the coming weeks following his deadline day loan move from Liverpool.

Woltman made his professional debut as a late substitute against AC Milan at the San Siro in the Champions League group stage in December.

But his first assignments in League Two include the likes of Mansfield, Hartlepool, Barrow and Swindon.

“What’s good about it is he’s coming into a team that’s pretty settled with a bit of a winning mentality,” said McSheffrey, whose side are unbeaten in their first six league games, having won four of them.

”There’s no major pressure on him to come in and make a massive impact from the beginning.

"He’s going to want to play and have a really good spell here, but it’s nice that he can come in and make an impact probably initially off the bench and just be good cover for certain areas.”

Woltman has scored regularly at youth level and for Liverpool’s under-21s.

He will have 350-game veteran Kieran Agard and George Miller, who is closing in on 200 career appearances, for competition in DN4 alongside fellow youngsters Josh Andrews and Reo Griffiths upon their return from injury.

“It’s one thing doing it in youth football but taking it to the next level in men’s football is the much bigger picture and that’s where I want to be,” said Wirral-born Woltman.

His Liverpool teammates who have already experienced the rough and tumble of so-called ‘real football’ shared some valuable advice with him.

“They’ve said don’t expect it to be all easy and I’m going to have hard things coming my way,” added Woltman.

"I’m looking forward to it because that makes you the player you want to be.

"I can’t wait to see what the next few months have in store for me.”

McSheffrey added: “We’re sure in a few weeks he’ll be wanting to start games, but it’s nice to get one in that doesn’t have to hit the ground running and there’s loads of pressure on him to perform from the start.”