Doncaster Rovers: '˜I thought I wouldn't be playing at all' - Danny Andrew would relish game time with senior side

The defender made his long-awaited return to action with 45 minutes for Rovers’ Development Squad in their 1-1 draw with Mansfield Town on Tuesday.

It came almost eight months after he suffered a devastating cruciate ligament injury in the defeat at AFC Wimbledon, ending what had been an impressive start to life with Doncaster Rovers.

Though his rehabilitation process and return to training had gone well, the 27-year-old thought he may have to wait until pre-season for his first taste of competitive football.

“I probably didn’t expect this,” he told the Free Press.

“When I did it I thought I wouldn’t be playing at all.

“I thought I might get a bit of training in but to be where I am at the minute, I can only thank the staff and the physios that have helped me along the way.

“The lads have been supporting me the whole way through.

“It’s been really good and it showed coming through 45 minutes unscathed after putting in tackles, it’s just made me feel really confident now.”

Boss Darren Ferguson has suggested Andrew could be handed a run out for the senior side before the end of the season, with Rovers finding themselves with a packed calendar over the next fortnight.

Such discussions have not been held with the player himself but Andrew would welcome any time he gets.

He said: “I’ve seen through social media. Nothing has really been said to me.

“I think that is to maybe keep me focused on the next step and not looking too far ahead.

“But I’ve seen a few things the gaffer has said that hopefully he’ll be able to give me a few minutes.

“If everything goes well in the next couple of weeks, hopefully that can happen.”