Luke Molyneux: How the 24-year-old bolsters Doncaster Rovers’ midfield ranks – scout report

Doncaster Rovers endured a torrid 2021/22 campaign which resulted in relegation to the EFL League Two after spending the majority of the season in the drop zone. There were several problem areas throughout the club over the course of the campaign, and one of the major issues was poor recruitment, which felt like it had no real structure or purpose, with panic signings seemingly becoming the norm.

With club legend James Coppinger taking on the role of Head of Football Operations, the fans have been treated to a breath of fresh air with their recruitment in the summer of 2022, making several exciting signings. One of those is Luke Molyneux, a 24-year-old attacking midfielder/winger who thoroughly impressed at fellow League Two club Hartlepool United in 2021/22.

Molyneux’s aggression and attacking efforts did not go unnoticed, and neither did his tally of 12 goals across all competitions. With Rovers struggling in attack last season, bringing in a midfielder with an eye for goal could be a shrewd piece of business.

This scout report will provide a tactical analysis of his performances in a Hartlepool shirt with the goal of giving fans a preview of what he may add to Doncaster Rovers tactics this coming season. There will be an analysis of three key areas of his game – firing from range, contributions in the build-up phase, and his ability to perform under pressure in attacking duels.

Player Profile

Left-footed Molyneux came through the ranks at former Premier League club Sunderland but failed to make an impact, featuring just six times for their first team, including his debut in 2018 under the old Real Sociedad boss Chris Coleman. A short loan spell at Gateshead in the National League was vital for his development in 2018 before he found a new temporary home in Hartlepool United.

Playing for the club in both the National League and League Two since their return, Molyneux recorded 108 appearances, netting 17 times. His stock rose significantly thanks to his consistent quality performances in 2021/22, earning him three impressive awards – players’ player of the season, fans’ player of the season, and goal of the season.

Throughout his career so far, Molyneux has featured more in a central attacking midfield role than anywhere else. However, he has strong experience in a number of other roles including striker, right winger, left winger, and a deeper central midfielder, adding an element of versatility to the Doncaster squad.

As you can see from his 2021/22 heat map, he was most present on the right flank but also featured in the above positions too. His pace and aggression can be a real issue for defenders when he’s operating from the right flank, and he tends to bag more goals too. Considering the current state of the Doncaster squad, his responsibilities will likely mostly focus on playing as a right winger or central attacking midfielder.

Firing from range

As mentioned in the introduction of this scout report, Luke Molyneux contributed with a healthy amount of goals for his side last season, bagging 12 goals in all competitions – not a bad return for someone who spends a lot of time as a midfielder. If you actually go back and watch his 2021/22 clips, you’ll see that most of his goals are thunderous left-footed drives from range. Below is an analysis of two examples of this – how he manages to get himself into a position to score these exciting goals on a regular basis.