‘Similar people’ - Grant McCann explains what new signing James Collins will offer Doncaster Rovers

Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann believes James Collins will bring similar attributes to the dressing room to that of Billy Sharp after his arrival on loan from Lincoln City.

Collins joined Rovers on deadline day on a deal which runs until January 2027. He’s expected to be a key figure both on and off the pitch due to his character, leadership qualities and the vast experience he possesses in the division.

However, it could still be a few weeks before Rovers supporters get to see their new striker out on the pitch as he approaches the final stages of his rehabilitation from a serious ACL injury which has so far kept him on the sidelines for the entirety of 2026.

Commenting on the decision to bring Collins to the club, which raised eyebrows with some sections of the fanbase due to his lack of recent match sharpness, McCann said: “I think he'll be a really great signing for us. Somebody who has been promoted from this league, won the league twice, but also been promoted from it three times.

“Five, six promotions on his CV. An experienced leader, a goal scorer, a tremendous person. Delighted that Lincoln have given us him to come here and enjoy his football again.”

League One winners Lincoln City offered Collins a one-year extension to his contract earlier this year despite his injury in a real show of faith by the club. Prior to his injury he’d scored 16 goals in 45 appearances for the club across all competitions.

In a statement, the Imps explained that they decided to loan the striker out due to rules about the number of players they could register in their squad for the new Championship season.

Sporting director Jez George said “James is progressing well with his rehab and should return to team training within the timeline our medical department originally anticipated.

“What James will then need in November and December is game time, and we are not in a position for that initially to be with Lincoln City, based on the rules in the Championship of us only being able to register 25 players in our squad until the transfer window opens again in January.

“This arrangement gives James the best opportunity to get back to starting games and scoring goals at the highest possible level so that we can all re-assess everything in January, when we hope that James will be back to where he was when the injury occurred last December.”

When asked about the injury, McCann explained that the striker won’t be too far away from joining up with the squad.

He added: “He did his ACL. That obviously scares people these days, but it's not as big an injury as people think now. Usually with an ACL, you're back by six or seven months.He's well past that.

“Lincoln are obviously monitoring in terms of what he needs to tick off to get back playing. We don't think he'll be too far away.”

When Collins is fit and available, he’ll provide competition to both Alfie May and Brandon Hanlan in attack - offering the team a different dimension to what they currently have.

Collins is a proven goalscorer with more than 200 career goals in his professional career - and perhaps qualities on and off the pitch that are not too dissimilar to that of veteran Billy Sharp, who departed in the summer after two very solid seasons back in DN4.

McCann, when asked about how the pair compare, said: “Over the years, we've always had top characters in our changing room.

“It's massive. Even today when he was in meeting the players and introducing himself to the staff, you can just see his class and quality and character. So I think he'll be brilliant for the changing room.

“They are similar people (Collins and Sharp) Really driven and hungry to score goals. They want to be pushed.

“They want to be encouraged to do things, like just speaking to him today. So yes, similar types of profile. Both obviously made for goals, both scored in the EFL. I think he'll be a top signing when we have him fit.”