Doncaster Rovers boosted by return of ‘best in the division pair’ and one-time Sheffield Wednesday target

Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann says Jack Senior and Jamie Sterry should both be available for this weekend’s South Yorkshire derby with Sheffield Wednesday.

Senior, who has started the season in excellent fashion, hasn’t featured since a 2-0 victory away at Peterborough United before the international break due to injury.

Meanwhile, Sterry, who started all of Rovers’ first four matches across all competition, hasn’t played at all since August after sustaining a hamstring injury during the club’s defeat to Middlesbrough in the League Cup.

“Jamie Sterry and Jack Senior should be both available for Saturday, which is massive for us because, in my opinion, they're up there with the best in the division in their position. It's nice to see them two back on the training pitches all week,” said McCann.

The pair’s return comes as a huge boost to a Rovers team that in recent weeks have had to set up with three centre-backs and two wing-backs due to the shortage of full-backs at their disposal.

“We're having a play formation, which is different because there's no full backs and we haven't really got an option to play any other way,” were McCann’s exact words after the Stockport defeat.

Elsewhere, Rovers are also boosted in an attacking sense by the return of wingers Jordan Thomas and Tommi O’Reilly - two players that were just starting to come into form before their injuries against Burton Albion and Liverpool U21’s respectively.

The pair have both overcome their respective knocks but have only just returned to training due to suffering from illness earlier in the week.

O’Reilly, in particular, could be someone with a point to prove. The Aston Villa loanee was reportedly a key target for Sheffield Wednesday throughout the summer before his decision to relocate to DN4.

“Tommy's a really, really good player, technically excellent, 1v1, brilliant,” said McCann.

“It's pleasing to have him back, we want to keep him back now because he is a robust kid, he is, he played nearly every game last year for Crewe, so it's important we keep him back now and keep him fit.”

Rovers should also be boosted by the return of goalkeeper Josh Clarke after an injection to his finger. He’ll likely come back on to the bench to provide competition for Tommy Simkin.

Meanwhile, James Husband and Tom Nixon are very close to coming back to provide further depth in defence.

“If they don't make Saturday, they'll definitely make next Tuesday at Luton,” explained McCann.