Recap: Wakefield AFC 0 Doncaster Rovers 6: Useful workout as Rovers hit six in latest friendly

Tommy Rowe sees a pass intercepted into the middle of the park by Wakefield’s Mason Rubie who surges forward before sliding in Bruno Bagi. The forward hits the byline and stings a ball across goal, which Louis Jones palms away before Jake Morrison nods the follow up over the bar. Rovers haven’t quite got going yet.

Branden Horton sells Lirak Hasani short with a pass, conceding possession and then bringing down the Wakefield attacker on the corner of the box. It takes an AJ Greaves header at the near post to keep the resulting free kick away from danger.

Ben Close takes the kick-off and we’re up and running

...is top official Bobby Madley. He’s a local lad, from Wakefield and is getting his minutes in before the start of the new campaign.

And new signing Tiago Cukur is handed his first minutes in Rovers colours as he starts in the central attacking role, flanked by a pair of trialists - Aidan Barlow and former Tottenham Hotspur youngster Shayon Harrison.

The rest of the first half side is made up of players who are contracted to Rovers, albeit a young side in the main.

There will be plenty of trialists in the second half, including a few new faces.

Tonight could present the first opportunity to see new signing Tiago Cukur in Rovers colours following his arrival from Watford yesterday.

There is a buzz about the 6ft3 Turkey U21 international and the impact he could have on the Rovers front line.

Ex-team mates will be going head to head in the two dugouts tonight with former Rovers full back Adam Lockwood in charge of Wakefield.

The club was only formed in 2019 but was done so with no shortage of backing or ambition. Former Sheffield Wednesday manager Chris Turner is one of the figureheads behind Wakefield.

It is the largest city in the country without a professional football club and the founders are determined to change that as soon as possible.

The ambition is to reach the EFL by 2033 - and they have a long way to go to do that as they have started life in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League at step 11 of the football pyramid.

The impacts of Covid-19 on the last two non-league seasons have prevented Wakefield from beginning their ascent up the pyramid but they are hoping to kick on during this campaign.

And they have this month received fresh backing, with US company VO2 Capital taking on a sponsorship arrangement and an option to buy a majority stake in the club.

Rovers may soon have another rival just down the road.

Rovers continue their pre-season preparations but do so still under trying circumstances.

Those players isolating due to contact with the club’s sole Covid-19 case will still be absent as Rovers head the short journey to Featherstone where they will meet AFC Wakefield this evening.

Positives from Saturday’s heavily disrupted friendly at Bradford City were few and far between and again Richie Wellens will have to squeeze all he can from a difficult situation.

He has even joked about giving himself game time. At least we think he was joking