Darren Moore’s message to Fejiri Okenabirhie once he returns from ‘harmful’ suspension for Doncaster Rovers

The January signing saw promising progress following his arrival halted with his sending off in the defeat at Gillingham - only his fifth appearance for the club.

It saw him banned for three matches and he will serve the final game of his suspension this weekend when Rovers visit MK Dons.

Having had the opportunity for focused work in training during his absence, Okenabirhie must begin his Rovers career in earnest on his return, according to boss Moore.

“What he’s been doing is trying to keep himself in tip-top shape in these weeks,” Moore said.

“We’re able to overload him with work and on his physical condition to get him up to speed.

“It presents us with the opportunity to do that.”

Moore admits the suspension has been damaging for Rovers and bemoaned the misfortune of the timing.

“When we were having midweek games it’d have been all over in a week,” he said.

“But this has stretched over three weeks.

“The sending off has hurt us in a sense and especially Fej because he’s got off to such a good start here.

“It is what it is. We’ve accepted the punishment and he’s just got to serve it.”

Okenabirhie has two goals to his name since joining Rovers in the final week of the winter transfer window.