Summer of preparation enables May to enjoy flying start for Doncaster Rovers

The 24-year-old stepped up four levels of the football pyramid last January to join the South Yorkshire club’s bid to win promotion from League Two.

Three goals in 16 league appearances followed as Darren Ferguson’s men clinched a return to the third tier.

May, however, felt he could have done much better and this time around he has delivered on that promise with his strike against Hull City in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup second round victory meaning the striker is already two goals clear at the top of Doncaster’s scoring charts.

“I feel really confident at the moment but I keep telling myself I have to keep doing the best for the team,” said May.

“Pre-season is what has made the difference for me, along with training every day. I have been learning different things every day. The thing I have to tell myself is, ‘The goal doesn’t move’. As a striker, you know where the goal is. I just have to be ruthless.

“I felt last year that I was thinking too much about it. Nerves came into it a bit as a pro. Even a couple of days after the game, I was still kicking myself and thinking, ‘I should have done this or that’.

“But by then it is too late. The final whistle had long gone. So, this year I have been more ruthless.”

After being rejected by Millwall as a youngster, May’s route to the professional game has been a long and winding one with stop-offs at a host of places.

Hytke, Billericay, Belvedere, Chatham and Erith & Belvedere are just some of the clubs he combined playing duties with working as a builder with the family business.

“I am really enjoying it,” he added.

“Playing with the quality players we have and learning from the players we have in our team is great.

“Someone like me wants to learn as much as I can.

“Learning off John Marquis, who got 26 goals last year, is a big help. His finishing is absolute quality.

“He chats to me and says, ‘Don’t think about it, just put your foot through it’.”