Doncaster Rovers boss Richie Wellens on his plans for the number nine role and whether a new signing will be made

Richie Wellens intends to give Fejiri Okenabirhie and Omar Bogle the chance to impress in pre-season before deciding whether he needs to sign a new striker for Doncaster Rovers.
Omar BogleOmar Bogle
Omar Bogle

The Rovers boss admits he faces a balancing act with his playing budget and want to avoid over-investing in a particular position while he remains short in other areas.

With Wellens set to favour a 4-3-3 system, his focus is adding to the wide attacking areas with Jon Taylor his only current option.

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But he says it will be down to the efforts of his two existing strikers to determine whether he needs additional reinforcements up front.

“We’ve got certain finances that are took up in attacking areas,” Wellens told the Free Press.

“We do need a left sided player who can attack and score goals. We’re talking to one or two and in the next few days we’ll get an answer from them.

“At the moment I can’t go out and get a number nine because I want to see what Okenabirhie and Bogle can do.

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“It’s no good me going out and getting a number nine and doing the budget on that.

“I want a left sided player, I want a holding midfield player to come in as well who is dominant and can break the game up.

“If I bring in a number nine and Bogle and Okenabirhie are firing in pre-season and can take us to where we want to go, I’ve got someone new I’ve wasted my budget on and I don’t have room for a left winger.

“It’s about putting the jigsaw pieces together. We’re going in the right direction.”

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