Sterry, Collins, Husband: Doncaster Rovers team news ahead of Leicester City as Keane targets debut

Doncaster Rovers could be boosted by the return of five team players when they play host to Sheffield Wednesday next weekend.

Grant McCann’s side are currently dealing with an avalanche of injuries which leaves him pretty short of options heading into this weekend’s trip to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium along with the home match against Stockport County three days later.

Commenting on the situation, McCann said: “I’m looking forward to having a bit of an issue when it comes to picking a team or a squad. At the minute, we have what we have available and sometimes that helps as it takes less decisions, but it’d be nice to have the whole group together.”

Heading into the game with Leicester, McCann has confirmed that James Husband, Jamie Sterry, Jack Senior, Jordan Thomas and Tommi O’Reilly will all miss out. However, Bayley McCann does return in a welcome boost.

“We’ve had a few back on the pitches,” McCann explained.

“We had O’Reilly out there today, Sterry this week and Bayley McCann. From those three Bayley is ready.

“By this time next week we’ll have four or five back and when I say that it’s probably Thomas, O’Reilly, Husband, Senior and Sterry.”

McCann will also have a new striker at his disposal for the trip to the East Midlands in the form of Will Keane, who recently signed a short-term contract until January.

Keane, who won the Golden Boot at this level with Wigan Athletic after a 26-goal season in 2021/22, has been without a club since leaving Preston North End in June, but still arrives ready and available after training with the PFA throughout pre-season to try and remain as close to matchsharp as possible.

McCann confirmed the five-time Republic of Ireland international will be in the matchday squad. He said: “He’ll be involved in the game. We still have a few players unavailable, but that being said he still would have been involved.”

Keane replaces Frankie Okoronkwo in the 22-man squad, with the former Everton man being out until at least the new year after a fresh injury blow to his hamstring.

Okoronkwo hasn’t featured since January despite agreeing a two-year deal with the club over the summer. Commenting on the youngsters' situation, McCann said: “When we signed Frankie, although its only a two-year contract, we saw it as more of a long-term thing.

“And we knew that we were picking up a player that had a double hamstring operation over the summer. So we knew it was a risky signing. But we wanted to take the risk because of the potential we saw in Frankie. We’re going to have to be patient.”

Keane’s arrival to replace Okoronkwo means for Rovers now have three former Golden Boot winners at League One level on their books. One of those is Alfie May and the other is James Collins, but the latter is still waiting for his debut after an injury battle of his own.

Commenting on the situation with Collins, McCann said: “He’s getting there. It’s hard to predict the timescale on James. I think it’s more when he’s comfortable to get going again but he’s definitely getting there.”