Key man ruled out of Doncaster Rovers' clash with Gillingham as boss prepares for reunion

The versatile club captain has been missing for more than a month due to a hamstring injury.

“He’s got a niggling injury,” said head coach Danny Schofield.

”He’s not going to be too long but he’ll be unavailable for selection.”

Schofield did not provide an exact timescale on Rowe’s return but said the 34-year-old, who has been a key player at the club over two spells, is “not too far off” along with striker Reo Griffiths and centre-back Joseph Olowu.

Schofield said: "They are three important members of our squad, so to get them up and running for me to start working with them on the pitch for the first time will be good.”

Schofield has no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s match.

Captain Adam Clayton is suspended for the clash having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Stevenage on Tuesday.

Gillingham are managed by Schofield’s former Millwall teammate Neil Harris.

The Gills were also relegated from League One last season but have struggled to acclimatise to life back in the fourth tier and are fifth bottom.

Schofield said: “We had a promotion together (2010 League One play-off final), we played in that final together, so we have a really strong connection.

"If you play with players and they move into a coaching role you always have that bond.

"Although you don’t speak about it I think there is respect between ex-players.”

A first win in charge for Schofield could see Rovers reduce the gap between themselves and the play-offs to one point.