Leeds United Academy graduate Mallik Wilks had a bright start to life out on loan with Doncaster Rovers having secured the switch out to the club back in the August transfer window.
The 19-year old scored three times in his opening three games but with 25 appearances to his name now, he’s only added another two strikes to his tally and he has struggled for a starting place in recent weeks owing to his lack of a return in front of the net.
Given his small fall from grace, which in some ways was more injury related in fairness as he picked up a dead leg in his last start and the form of others have now kept him sidelined, it must have led to some talk of a January return in some quarters – but that has been ruled out by manager Grant McCann who is adamant he wants to keep him after January.
The Star quoted him the other day as explaining.
“We love Mallik here. He has brought so much to us here. He may not have scored as many goals as he would have wanted but he’s a threat and he takes a lot of burden off John Marquis with his physicality. He’s been great. He’s been unfortunate that he picked up a dead leg against AFC Wimbledon and Alfie May has come in and done well. We have no doubt he will play a huge part for us until the end of the season.”
Wilks’ loan is only initially until January but McCann did confirm there was already an agreement in place to extend the deal until the end of the campaign if Doncaster wished.
The outlet reported that this would continue to be the case even if Wilks does not agree a new deal with us as he’s a free agent next summer.