The chances of Matty Blair being fit for Doncaster Rovers' festive run-in

But he hopes the pacy midfielder will be back in action early in the new year.

Blair has been unavailable since mid-September after suffering a groin injury, which Moore has previously admitted has taken longer to heal than expected.

While Blair is expected to return to training with the Rovers squad later this month, he will not be up to full match fitness until next month at the earliest.

“It’d be very thin,” Moore said on Blair’s chances of being fit this month.

“That’s only because by the time he comes back at Christmas, it’s whether he’s got the volume of training in him.

“He’ll be back out there with us but it’s just the intensity of the training and the every day because being fit and being match fit are two very different things.

“We’re going to have be very patient with him, even though it’s great to have him back and you feel like you can get your hands on him.

“We’ve just got to be patient with him and know that he’s making good progress, which is the main thing.”

Blair – who is the second longest serving player at the club – has managed only seven appearances this season due to his injury.

His contract with Rovers will expire in the summer.