John Marquis joked after his brace against MK Dons that his excellent second goal was probably the furthest out he’s ever scored from in his career, and he took the shot from that distance because he didn’t have the requisite pace to pull away from the defender having started his run from just outside the centre circle.
Unlike many of Joey Barton’s signings at Rovers, Marquis arrived in north Bristol with his reputation and playing style very much recognised and established; six full seasons in League One with Doncaster Rovers, Portsmouth and latterly Lincoln City and a record of 78 goals in 238 games at this level - 13th on the all-time list.
He was, unlike all his colleagues in the striker’s department, seemingly a ready-made finisher and player; a fox-in-the-box penalty area presence who can nick a goal out of nothing and provide a new and different goal threat for the Gas. While that is partially true, it’s also a little unfair on him. Because even at 30, he wants to be more than the John Marquis everyone thinks they know.
His time away from the first-team, due to injury and the elevation of others ahead of him in the striking hierarchy has allowed him to work on his game and physicality and, by his own admission, he’s returned as “fit and strong as I’ve ever felt”.
As for his approach on the pitch, while he displayed his finishing qualities with a double to help defeat MK Dons on Tuesday, his performance outside those two well-taken goals stood out. The Londoner was strong and aggressive in the challenge when holding the ball up, and went looking for possession, interchanging with Aaron Collins and then Josh Coburn, to be more than just “a striker”.
His growing relationship with his teammates and understanding of their habits also helps, as illustrated by his second goal. As Coburn dropped a few yards deeper to connect with Anssi Jaakkola’s big boot downfield, there was Marquis on the 20-year-old’s shoulder and shouting “Josh” for the Middlesbrough loanee to flick the ball into his path.
“When you’re not playing as regularly, you can spend more hours on the training pitch, more hours in the gym,” Marquis said. “Whereas the lads who have been playing week-in, week-out, they’re doing a lot of recovery to ensure they’re ready and their energy’s full for the next game. So it’s given me an opportunity to work on my game a little bit; a couple of things I can tidy up. I know what I’m good at, I know what I’m capable of.
“For me, I want to improve every single day. There are so many aspects of your game that you can improve on. I’ve done a lot of work in the gym through my injury and my rehab and I’ve come back and continued that. I feel as strong and as fit as I’ve ever felt, to be honest.
“On the training pitch, (it’s about) being nice and tidy with my back to goal stuff. Being involved in the game more. I know when I’m involved more I can help the team; linking it, coming in short, running in behind, obviously doing the physical side - being a bit more of a complete striker, instead of just being in and around the box waiting for opportunities.
“That’s where I’ve had a lot of success in my career, but at times you have to do a lot of other stuff to be involved in the game. I’ve just worked on those sorts of things and I feel very happy where my game is at the moment and I just want to continue improving. If I improve, then hopefully I can play a part in the group improving.
“I’ve always wanted to improve, and get better, and there’s no ceiling in which you can go in this game - you keep working hard and eventually you find the form that can kick you on. I’ve played in the No10 position a couple of times - Colchester and Exeter - with one up front, and I actually really enjoyed it, getting more of the ball.
"And then I’ve looked back and thought, ‘how can I play as a No9 and still enjoy getting that much of the ball?' When you play two up front, you do need somebody to be that bit of a link. It’s just a combination of making sure you don’t get caught doing too much, but end up doing nothing.”
Marquis admits the stop-start nature of his first five months in a Rovers shirt has been “frustrating” as he was initially having to adapt to his new surroundings in a short-handed team struggling for form, then sustained his knee injury against Crystal Palace Under-21s which put him out for a sustained period of time.
The 30-year-old, though, is gradually settling into his new environment, both at the training ground with his teammates and Bristol as a place, attending his daughter’s nativity play prior to the MK Dons win, as his young family build themselves new home and establish roots in the city.
He, like fellow summer signing Luke McCormick, has had to bide his time and fully accepts that he’s below younger and less established players in the pecking order, simply because they’re playing too well not to be above him.
That speaks of the culture Joey Barton has bred, with players knowing their place and what’s required and expected of them; reputations are great, but they’re not going to get you on that teamsheet.
“It’s been a little bit frustrating,” said Marquis. “I came in and we were struggling a bit at the start of the season. And then other people pick up form, and then we had the Exeter game where I scored and then I got injured - out for 6/7 weeks.
“It’s frustrating but it’s part of football and I can’t begrudge Aaron and Josh and even Lofty before his injury. The form of them has been exceptional and sometimes you’ve got to just be patient and bide your time and that’s why you have to be ready for when your opportunity comes along.”
Marquis could well be afforded a second start of the week at Charlton Athletic on Saturday, should Aaron Collins fail a late fitness test and Ryan Loft remain out with muscle spasms.
He admits he operates best in a partnership and having profited twice from Coburn in midweek - the first accidentally as the young striker miscued a shot into his path, the second very much deliberately - the two could continue together at The Valley.
“It’s always nice to have another forward player up there with you when you can share the workload, share the battering at times,” he admits. It’s a lot easier when the team is doing well, and the lads are confident because you’re going into a team that is functioning very well.”
SIGN UP: To receive our free Rovers newsletter, bringing you the latest from the Mem
