Doncaster Rovers boss delivers injury verdict on Josh Sims

The Southampton loanee suffered a hamstring injury during Tuesday night’s win over Swindon Town.

And Rovers boss Moore confirmed he will be absent until late January.

“We've had the report back on Josh and it’s not good news,” Moore said. “We anticipate that he will be out for about six weeks with the hamstring injury.

"It is a big blow."

The absence will take Sims beyond the end of his loan at the Keepmoat.

While the Free Press understands it is unlikely the 23-year-old will remain with Rovers for the rest of the season, Moore says discussions will be held with Southampton about extending the deal.

"Right now it’s about both clubs discussing parameters and the possibilities of it,” he said.

"If it is possible to do so then we’d certainly like to pursue it.

"Both clubs need to have a chat and decide what is best for all parties.

"But if you’re asking us if we’d like to see him stay on and progress with us, then the answer is yes.”

Moore said muscle injuries have become a fact of life during this condensed season.

"It’s the new measures we face with the fixtures the way they are and the volume of games the players have had to operate under,” he said.

"It’s one of those things we have to deal with as best as we can now.

"There's been a multitude of soft tissue injuries at a number of clubs that we've seen. Even us as a football club, I don’t think with a third of the season gone, we’ve ever had as many soft tissue injuries.

"Across it, the players that have gone down with it include Joe Wright, Tyreece John-Jules, Jon Taylor, Jason Lokilo, Madger Gomes – to name a few.

"It’s probably something like that with the magnitude of the games and that's why managers try to rotate the squad as best as they possibly can and try to move people around.

"Josh has fallen victim of that unfortunately. He was very much in the ascendancy with his form but the main thing now is his welfare and we get him back as fit as we possibly can."

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