Bobby Faulkner feels having his new deal in the bag can help him focus on maturing and improving as a Rovers player.
The 17-year-old has penned a new two-year deal with the club and he is keen to keep aiming high with his hometown side.
He said: “It’s nice to get a new deal and give something back to my family. They’ve got me to this point and it’s good to be able to share this with them.
“I’d like to get as many games under my belt as I can and really show everyone what I’m about, the minutes are big for me.
“I’ve got a few weeks to go before I’m back in so I’ll be spending a lot of time in the gym and getting myself ready for the season ahead.”
Having impressed during a loan spell with Frickley Athletic last season, Faulkner admitted the feedback from manager Gary McSheffrey gave him a boost in confidence upon his return to Rovers.
He added: “I had the loan at Frickley and that helped me because I was coming up against big, strong strikers who weren’t afraid to be physical.
“I got stronger and felt better for it, playing regularly with three points on the line every week also showed me the standards I need to be at.
“It was a big step for me challenging myself, I went out of my comfort zone to gain the experience and improve as a defender.
“The manager has had a lot of conversations with me about my development and it’s good to know he’s keeping a close eye on me.
“He wants me to be ready to take the next step now and I know I am, his trust in me is massive because it takes the pressure off.”
