How Doncaster Rovers youngsters have benefited from Darren Moore's presence

The young defender is looking to force his way into Moore’s senior plans on a regular basis and is determined to soak up as much advice from a player with more than 600 career appearances.

Moore leads training for the development squad group at least once a week and Blaney believes the club’s youngsters have benefited from his presence.

“I think if you asked any player I don’t think anyone could think any higher of him since he’s come in,” he said. “Both him and Jamie [Smith, assistant] have been brilliant.

“They’ve helped everyone and definitely me personally.

“He’s been helping all the centre halves.

“He’s helped me with things like positioning so it’s been great.

“Every day I come in looking forward to working with him.”

Having been involved around first team level much more this term, Blaney is confident he is the type of centre half that will slot into a Moore side.

“As a left footer I love getting on the ball.

“But I love the dirty side of the game as well,” he said.

“I’m always working every day.

“I work every day on getting better at all aspects of the game.”

The training programme and approach surrounding the development squad has been altered this season, with more structured time at Cantley Park and increased integration with the senior squad.

And one of the major benefits of that according to Blaney is allowing young players to feel they are closer to breaking into the first team set up on a more regular basis.

“One hundred per cent,” he said.

“Speaking with the players from the development squad around the first team, there’s a real togetherness as a squad.

“The gaffer and Jamie have been a breath of fresh air.

“That is what they wanted to install.

“Everyone feels part of it, it feels like a big squad.

“And I think that is one of the main things that has been brilliant this year.”