Doncaster Rovers: John Marquis explains why his next target is the 30-goal mark

History boy John Marquis is not satisfied with 20 goals. He now wants 30.
John MarquisJohn Marquis
John Marquis

Because he says that would almost guarantee a League Two winners medal.

Marquis, a revelation at the Keepmoat Stadium since leaving his boyhood club Millwall last summer, joined a very select group of players in Doncaster Rovers’ recent history to have reached 20 goals in a season by scoring in the 3-2 win at Cambridge United on Tuesday night.

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But ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Crawley Town, the 24-year-old said he has very good reason to now target 30.

“There’s nothing that can rule that out,” said Marquis, asked if he can reach 30 for the season.

“I’m not going to get too carried away and too far ahead of myself.

“But I’d say if I did get to 30 goals there’d be a good chance I’ll have a winners medal around my neck as well.

“Hopefully we can keep on scoring, myself and the team.

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“It was obviously good to get the win [at Cambridge] and we’re looking forward to the last 12 games.”

Since breaking through at Millwall in 2009, Marquis went out on loan seven times at six clubs - including helping Northampton Town win League Two last season.

His previous best goal tally for a season was ten in 2015. His expectations for this season have already been surpassed.

“I didn’t really set any targets at the start of the season. My main target was to play football,” he said.

“I’ve never had a consistent run in any sort of team.

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“As I’ve said the whole season, it was just a new challenge for me to move up here and hopefully do enough to break into the team and score the goals and put in the performances to keep me in the team.

“That was my aim, just to play. Everything that’s come with it I’m obviously delighted about.”

He added: “The players that we have here, it was always going to be fierce competition for places.

“My performances have merited me playing and I feel like working under the manager that I’ve learnt so much in a short space of time and my game in my opinion has come on quite a lot this season.

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“People maybe thought at the start of the season that I wouldn’t get the return I have - and that’s probably fair for people to say on what I’ve done in the past.

“But hopefully I can keep on scoring and see where that takes us as a team.”