Are Doncaster Rovers starting places still up for grabs as season opener looms large?

Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann admits starting places are still up for grabs for next week's opener.

Rovers travel to Stockport County in the first round of the Carabao Cup in a game that acts as the curtain-raiser for the 2026-27 campaign.

Rovers rounded off their pre-season schedule with a narrow defeat at home to Championship newcomers Lincoln City. Despite failing to score in their last three warm-up games, McCann believes his squad are in a good place with the kick-off on the horizon. "Pre-season is very hard to summarise performances," the Northern Irishman said. "It's all about trying different things, different formations. It's not so much performances, it's more about who you play with.

"The things I'm looking for, in terms of next week, are different combinations and things like that. Lincoln was a good opportunity for all the squad to get their minutes. They have done over these two games (against Wolves and Lincoln). Dave (Rennie, head of medical) presented me the minutes of all the squad during the week and they're pretty much on a par, which is good. It tells me everybody's ready.

"But I think there's place's up for grabs. It's going to be an intense week and I think training will be ramped up a bit. The players will want to be involved come Saturday, whether in the starting team or on the bench. It'll be an interesting week and it's a tough week for me. I've been really pleased with how pre-season has gone. Since we've come back into the building, the fitness levels of the boys, the training camp, the games. It's been a really successful pre-season.

"Now the real stuff starts next week."

Rovers have made nine summer signings so far and when asked about the potential for that figure to stretch into double figures, McCann remained tight-lipped: "We've got a big squad now and nearly every position is covered, so we'll see. Never say never."