Bobby Faulkner: Why the young Donny defender is attracting Premier League interest – scout report

So far, the resurgence of Doncaster Rovers is yet to fully take off, with the club currently sitting just outside of the EFL League Two play-offs. Despite a mixed bag of performances and results so far this season, there are a few individuals who have turned heads for the right reasons. One of them is Bobby Faulkner, the 18-year-old centre-back who has been immensely impressive at the heart of Rovers’ backline.

Featuring 11 times thus far in the current campaign in all competitions, Faulkner is gaining some vital first-team minutes but has also been an important figure for Gary McSheffrey’s side in the opening parts of the season. His performances have not gone unnoticed either, with reports circulating that the young defender is attracting interest from Premier League and EFL Championship clubs. This scout report will provide a tactical analysis of Faulkner’s defensive ability, along with an analysis of his work in possession, while also touching on how he fits into Rovers tactics. We will also take a look at an area for improvement in his defensive game – his tendency to be pinned by a striker and being beaten in the duel.

Player profile

Doncaster-born Bobby Faulkner has been highly rated by those at the club for some time since his arrival at the under-16 level and has enjoyed a spell at Frickley Athletic to bolster his development. Right-footed, Faulkner currently measures 6’1’ – considering his age, he could yet grow taller, ideal for the type of defender he is. Rovers’ faith in the youngster’s potential was outlined when he signed a two-year deal back in May 2022.

Possessing traits of what can be described as a somewhat old-fashioned centre-back, Faulkner’s presence lies mainly on the right side of a centre-half partnership. He has, however, had experience playing as a right-back and as a central midfielder. His heatmap below shows us which parts of the pitch he operates in and to what frequency.

Tough tackler

As we touched upon earlier on in this report, Faulkner could be described as a classic/old-fashioned centre-half. This obviously touches on reference to different areas of his game, but in terms of defensive ability and style, he lives up to that label – reliable and brave in a strong tackle. This segment of analysis looks at his ability in a defensive duel – how he uses various attributes to put in important challenges.