Doncaster Rovers: Darren Moore on Max Watters' league debut and chances of further appearances

Darren Moore insists Max Watters will have plenty more opportunities for first team football at Doncaster Rovers after making his league debut at the weekend.
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The forward came off the bench against MK Dons on Saturday and almost snatched a late winner on what was already a memorable day for the 20-year-old.

Moore was pleased with Watters’ performance and believes he will have learned plenty from his 22 minutes on the pitch.

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“We feel Max has got the physicality and the speed,” Moore said.

Max WattersMax Watters
Max Watters

“His eyes will have been opened at the level because from development football to first team football there is a jump.

“He’s had a taste of it now and I hope he’s gone away thinking 'I can manage that, I can do it.’

“There’s no doubting that there are more opportunities to come.”

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Watters signed for Rovers in May 2018 from non-league Ashford United as Darren Ferguson’s final acquisition after quitting as manager.

The 20-year-old had loan spells at Gainsborough Trinity and Mickleover Sports before being handed his senior debut for Rovers in the Leasing.com Trophy defeat to Manchester United U21s earlier this season.

Moore has reiterated that youngsters at Rovers will be given an opportunity if they earn their shot and says Watters’ appearance will provide a further boost to the prospects of the club’s development squad players.

“We’ve blooded a lot of youngsters this season,” he said.

“I said it at the start of the season about getting the youngsters going, developing our own.

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“There’s a programme in place where we will develop our own. It will give the players that chance and opportunity to play in the first team.

“We’ve seen another one of our own in Max Watters come on.

“Right on the stroke of 90 minutes he had a left footed shot that he’d probably say if it’d have been on his right he would have nestled it in the bottom corner.

“He’s got great power, great speed, great direction and I’m hoping as his head hit the pillow on Saturday night that it was a proud moment for him and his family to have made his debut and one that he could savour.”