Huddersfield Town man tipped to be ‘outstanding’ on loan away from Terriers

May re-joined Rovers on a season-long loan from Town

Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann is looking to bring Alfie May back to the “outstanding” goalscoring record he showed in the campaigns leading up to his spell with Huddersfield Town.

May re-joined Rovers on a season-long loan from Town at the back end of last week, with the striker returning to a side where he netted 23 times in 117 games in a three-year stint between January 2017 and 2020.

After leaving the League One outfit, May went on to score 111 goals in five-and-a-half seasons with Cheltenham Town, Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City, prior to joining Town last summer.

The 32-year-old netted seven goals and provided seven assists for the Terriers last term, and has now departed on loan to rejoin a side who finished 14th in League One last time out.

Discussing his new signing, McCann told his club: “Really pleased. I’ve been speaking to Alfie on and off really for seven or eight weeks, ever since the season finished, and just keeping in touch with him like I have done since he left here many years ago, so I think he’s a really good signing for us.

“Somebody who obviously knows League One really well – over the last five years, three times he’s been over 20 goals, 16 goals at Birmingham, probably seven or eight last year at Huddersfield but in a slightly different position, playing in behind the nine, so we think we can bring him back to those sort of marks that he showed at Cheltenham, Charlton, Birmingham, things like that, so really pleased to have him.

“He was just buzzing, delighted. We made it very clear from the end of the season we wanted to add more goals to the team, and I think Alfie certainly does that. His goals over the last five years has been absolutely outstanding, and to have him back in our building is a credit to everyone involved.”

On what he expects from his loan recruit, the Rovers’ boss added: “Just to come and be free and play his game.

“I spoke to Alfie a few times now, but obviously particularly today when he came in, he’s just come back off his holidays. Just having a chat to him about football and where we see him, we want him to be free in that nine role, we want him to go and express himself – get in behind teams, come and link, go and get on the ball, take the ball, make things happen, score goals, all the things that Alfie’s really good at.

“One thing he is as well is he’s an outstanding character, and I think we’ve made a real point this season with the signings of Byrner (Neill Byrne), Hubby (James Husband), Alfie particularly, experienced lads who know the level. Leon (Ayinde) obviously coming in who’s going to be brilliant, I think the fans will enjoy seeing him – I think so far so good, but I think Alfie adds this little bit of quality at the top end of the pitch that we absolutely needed.”

McCann has also been reunited with May, having worked with the forward for a year prior to the boss’ departure to join Hull City in 2019, and the manager said: “I remember having him here in my first season at Doncaster, and he was in and out of the team a little bit, probably down to the form of John Marquis at the time, but when he played, Alfie always delivered.

“He scored some big goals for us the season in League One, some of the cup games he scored in and played a massive part to us, going to Charlton in the play-offs, so I’m pleased to have him back, really pleased that he’s here.

“I think the boys will enjoy him, he’s lively every day, he’s a character, he trains well, so I’m really pleased to get it done.

“He’s more experienced, he’s more rounded. He’s been at some really big clubs, he’s got promotions under his CV since he’s been away, so he’s coming here with more experience and more know-how about him, but still with that real hunger and that determination to score goals, and that was very, very clear from speaking to Alfie.”