'I want us to develop our very own here' - Darren Moore on production line progress at Doncaster Rovers

Moore instigated changes to the club’s development squad set up following his arrival last summer in a bid to ensure U23s players could seamlessly transition when called up for first team action.

The Rovers boss was previously in charge of the equivalent age group at West Bromwich Albion, who have had good success in bringing home grown talent into senior football.

“I want us to develop our very own here at Doncaster Rovers,” he said.

“There’s continuity between the U18s and the U23s. And with the U23s at the football club, there’s a genuine opportunity to get into our first team and play.

“There is a genuine opportunity to develop homegrown players here and for them to play.

“They will see a pathway through the ages to U23s and the U23s will see there is a pathway through to the first team.

“The likes of Max Watters, AJ, Shane Blaney, Louis Jones, Danny Amos - these are all youngsters that have played this season and still have a huge part to play.

“No matter how young they are, if they’re good enough they’ll play.

“I’m not scared or frightened to put them in. They will play.”

Moore is pleased with the progress that has been made so far this term, under the guidance of U23 boss Gary McSheffrey but also encompassing the wider coaching staff.

But he insists there is plenty more work to be done for the set up to reach its full potential.

Moore says the major challenge is to ensure players in the development group are primed for senior football.

“Those U23s players know what is expected when they do step into the first team,” he said.

“I don’t look at them as young players, I look at them as first teamers.“They’ve got to come of age really quickly and I feel this is an environment when they are training alongside us where they can do that. It helps them mentally get up to that level.

“When you look at the likes of Danny Amos, when they come in they’ve got to be at a level.”