Walsall boss Jon Whitney delighted by Amadou Bakayoko display

The 21-year-old, who has come through the youth ranks at the Banks’s Stadium, was deployed on the left of midfield after Whitney opted for a 4-5-1 formation.

As well as impressing with his energy and work rate, Bakayoko also grabbed an assist as the Saddlers ran out 3-0 winners in Yorkshire.

And Whitney felt Bakayoko’s performance showed how he has developed over the past few years.

“I thought Doncaster was a very good team performance - our shape was fantastic,” the boss said.

“I can’t really single anyone out expect for Ama for his energy and his commitment to the team.

“He couldn’t have done that two years ago, even a year ago. His fitness levels are that high now he can complete that kind of work rate for the team.

“To have that in his locker, I said to him after the game, it’s sometimes more important to have that then goals.

“Players in the past who have done that have gone on to play a lot higher.”

Alongside Bakayoko, forward Tyler Roberts also impressed at the Keepmoat Stadium with the Albion loanee brilliantly winning the ball from Joe Wright to set up Erhun Oztumer for the opening goal.

And Whitney was delighted with the way the Wales under-21 international led the line for his team.

“He came off not smiling because he’s not scored,” the boss continued.

“He is a striker, all strikers want to score goals. But he led the line, ran them and occupied them in a 4-5-1. He didn’t give them a minute when they were stepping out.

“He stuck to his job. The goals will come but you have to make sure you have got the other side of it because that is what gives you game time.

“If you have got game time and you are on the pitch that is when your goals will come. He put in a real shift for the team at Doncaster.”