Dylan Hartley has made a huge impression in the youth team this season

Grant McCann has revealed that highly-rated youngster Dylan Hartley is attracting interest from a host of Premier League clubs, but says Doncaster Rovers must carefully manage his first-team opportunities.

Hartley, who has been in sensational form at youth team level, became Doncaster’s youngster ever appearance maker in the EFL Trophy when he was brought on for the final stages of the club’s 1-0 win over Liverpool Under-21s, surpassing a long-standing record which had been held by club great Alick Jeffrey.

Dylan Hartley has made a huge impression in the youth team this season | Howard Roe

placeholder image — Dylan Hartley has made a huge impression in the youth team this season | Howard Roe

The 15-year-old striker, who hails from Cantley, went on to make the matchday squad for the subsequent League One game against Burton Albion, but remained an unused substitute as the team secured a hard-fought 1-0 win.

By all accounts he made a strong impression during his first team training sessions in that period, but hasn’t since travelled with the first team squad with new signing Will Keane instead providing competition to both Brandon Hanlan and Alfie May.

Dylan Hartley became Doncaster's youngest ever appearance maker against Liverpool U21 in the EFL Trophy | Howard Roe

However, with attention turning back to the EFL Trophy and the final group game, along with a first round FA Cup match with Kidderminster Harriers, McCann could potentially look to shuffle the pack slightly.

When quizzed about the prospect of Hartley featuring against either Rochdale in the EFL Trophy or Kidderminster in the FA Cup, McCann said: “Possibly, Dylan's attracting a lot of interest at the minute, as you'd imagine, from a lot of Premier League clubs and people watching him and the scouts.

“There's so many scouts coming to watch all the games at this moment in time. And it's pleasing to see he's scoring a lot of goals.

“We just need to be careful with him.We don't want to be hanging him out to the wolves, really. We just need to dip him in and dip him out when we feel it's necessary. So, we'll see how he goes.”

Hartley will undoubtedly be keen to once again show what he’s capable of when he next receives a first team call-up, whether fans will see him this week remains to be seen, as attention also turns to the FA Youth Cup - a competition Rovers are desperate to go far in having reached the third round last season.