'It's a start' - Fejiri Okenabirhie on Doncaster Rovers' form, his style and how important goals are to him

The striker turned in an excellent performance during Rovers’ 4-1 win over Ipswich Town, with his hold-up and link-up play key before he fired in his first league goal of the campaign.

It was put to him afterwards that goals are not perhaps the most important part of his game, such is his dedication to the other aspects of his play.

But the 24-year-old was quick to shut down the observation.

“Goals are definitely important for me,” he said.

“Any striker, it should be, but for me, I see myself as a goalscorer.

“I want to score goals.

“But the team functioning and the team winning, it’s part of that. So scoring won’t come at the detriment of that.”

Having been forced to wait for his opportunity to start matches this season, Okenabirhie now faces an extended run in the side due to the injury to Tyreece John-Jules which will keep him out for the rest of the month.

While determined to keep his place once the Arsenal loanee returns, the striker insists he is not putting too much pressure on himself to perform over the busy next few weeks.

He said: “I just really focus on trying to do the best for the team whenever I get an opportunity.

“I need to do what the manager asks of me and help the team get the wins. That’s the most important thing.

“If I’m going to be playing and helping the team, then that’s great.”

Rovers host Crewe Alexandra on Saturday looking for a third consecutive win and a fifth in seven league matches this term.

While excited about form and performances, Okenabirhie insists the past few weeks can only be counted as ‘a start’ for Rovers.

He said: “It’s been good. You can’t hide from the fact that we’ve started well.

“We’re playing well so we want to keep that going.

“It’s easy to just get too excited. We just want to keep a level head.

“It’s only a start and there’s so much of the season left. We just want to stay consistent.”

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