What Doncaster Rovers fans can expect from Jonny Tomlinson and who he looked up to growing up

Jonny Tomlinson has given Doncaster Rovers fans an insight into his playing style and his nine year rise through the academy system and into the senior team.

Tomlinson was one of three Rovers debutants that got handed an opportunity to shine against Huddersfield Town in the EFL Trophy with Lincoln Pawlak and Alex Pavan also stepping out at the Club Doncaster Sports Village for the first time in a competitive outing.

The promising central defender, who hails from Bessacarr, played the final 10 minutes of the contest slightly out of position at right-back and did a steady job against Bali Mumba in the brief time he had out on the pitch.

“I kind of knew that I was going to come on at right-back, because a lot of young centre-backs come on at right-back, so I was kind of prepared mentally for that,” Tomlinson explained.

Being multifaceted is a quality that many managers value in players, particularly given the amount of games and the potential for the team to pick up injuries.

Tomlinson hopes it’s something that he can use to his advantage as and when he’s called upon. He added: “Playing in two positions is a very good attribute to have, because if the gaffer needs a centre-back, and he's looking down, he knows he can call me up, but then obviously a couple of injuries at right-back, I know I can step in there, and hopefully he can trust me.”

The EFL Trophy could prove a significant competition for Tomlinson in his journey towards getting regular first team football and proving he has what it takes to make the step up.

Tomlinson said: “Yeah, and it's good to see the gaffer, and the coaching staff like to give academy players debuts and opportunities in here, so it's a good real eyeset for not just myself, but for other academy players to have an eye on this competition and try and get involved.”

The teenager is a local lad and someone that’s watched a huge amount of Rovers growing up and at times even being a ball boy during games. He’ll have watched Alfie May and James Husband as a school kid and is thrilled to be playing and learning from names he omce looked up to.

When asked about the step up, Tomlinson said: “Oh, it's really nice, especially when Alfie May spoke to me in the tunnel just then and congratulated me. And to get a congratulations off them it’s like a little buzz inside.”

Tomlinson has spent plenty of time developing his game in the Doncaster academy and has learned the fundamentals of what it takes to be a modern-day defender.

Describing his play style, he said: “ More of a stepping-in centre-back and creative, more like long-range passing and finding the lines. I looked up to John Stones as a kid. I’m not a Man City fan but I just like the way he plays.”