Doncaster Rovers: Joe Wright happy to be knocking on the door again

Successive managers have spoken of regular knocks at the door from Joe Wright since his arrival at the club.

And it seems that under Darren Moore, little has changed for the centre half.

Visits for Wright have been understandable over the past few weeks as he has looked for a way into the Rovers starting XI.

After being struck down by a knee injury in the final friendly of pre-season, the 24-year-old has been forced to play a waiting game for his recall.

But that has not stopped him knocking on the door on a few occasions.

“I’ve done it a little bit,” Wright told the Free Press.

“Even if I’m not in the team I want to know what I need to do to get back into the team.

“I’ll ask him what part of the game I need to work on after training and stuff like that.

“I’m the type of person that will stay out after training, work hard and try to develop my game.

Wright performed well as he made his return to the starting XI in Saturday’s FA Cup tie with AFC Wimbledon.

While pledging patience, he has been aware that he would have to earn his place due to the strong competition at centre half.

“I’m a person that doesn’t like sitting on the bench,” Wright said.

“I think any manager that I’ve worked with would tell you that.

“I’m always desperate to play and I don’t think that will ever change.

“So I’ve had to be patient.

“I think the team has performed well so the manager cannot just chuck me back in.

“It has to be earned so when I am back in I’ll be at it.”

Wright could be forgiven for struggling with patience after an incredibly disruptive year in his young career.

After a highly promising start to last season, he suffered an ankle injury and then the same again after he had regained fitness from the initial problem.

The current campaign always seemed to set to be a major one in the career of Wright with a chance to establish himself firmly as one of the best defenders in the division.

But he says that has been the aim since returning to League One with Rovers.

“I'd say for the last two years it’s been that way for myself,” Wright said.

“I remember when I first came here Darren Ferguson said to me that I was probably going to be a player for the next league rather than League Two.

“Going into League One I knew it was going to be a big year for myself and I thought I did well.

“I took that into the start of last season and I’d say it was probably the best I’ve played for Doncaster.

“It was frustrating for it to end the way it did and then for it to start how it did this season.

“But I want to put that behind me now and kick on.”

And is he looking to show he is a player for the next league now?

“I’d love to,” he said with a grin.

“It’s a goal I’ve probably had for two or three years, to try to step up into the Championship so it’s something I want to do here.”