An injury round-up ahead of Rovers’ first game of the new season this weekend

Doncaster Rovers kick off the 2026-27 campaign this weekend when they travel to Stockport County in the Carabao Cup first round.

And from a Rovers perspective, there's a few selection headaches for the curtain-raiser at Edgeley Park.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, manager Grant McCann says he's juggling a couple of injury concerns. Left-back James Husband is set to be sidelined for at least a month after going off in the first half of last weekend's friendly with Lincoln.

"James has got a little tear in his hamstring," McCann said of the 32-year-old. "So we're potentially looking at four to six weeks out for Hubby, which is not great, but it's not a disaster. It could have easily been worse."

There's also a fresh concern in the shape of right-back Tom Nixon, who has picked up a calf strain. McCann confirmed that those two will sit out Stockport, along with Robbie Gotts (thigh) and Matty Pearson (calf).

"Robbie's doing well," the manager said. "He's close to potentially returning to train, but it won't be before this weekend's game. Matty came out and did a little bit during the week, but still doesn't feel 100 per cent. So again, he won't make this game either."

McCann also confirmed striker Frankie Okoronkwo is "still a little bit away" as he continues to recover from hamstring surgery earlier in the year.

On the injuries, the Rovers chief added : "We'll not sulk about it and moan about it because injury-wise, we've been pretty good. But we don't want to be any worse than what we are at this moment in time. I'm sure Dave (Rennie, head of medical) and his staff will get these players back as quickly and safely as possible. But it's not ideal. "With Hubby, it was just a freak sort of injury where he went to cross a ball or a free kick against Lincoln and felt the hamstring.

"So it wasn't even as if he strenuously went on a long run or a sprint. Tom was similar. He just went to turn on the training ground and just felt his calf. Nobody wants to miss the first few weeks of a season, but we'll get them back as safely as possible."