‘The signings could be the difference’ - James Coppinger on Doncaster Rovers’ play-off ambitions

Rovers signed Devante Cole, Fejiri Okenabirhie, Jacob Ramsey and Jason Lokilo last week and Coppinger thinks the new additions could push a promising Rovers team into the top six come May.

It is not just the ability of the quartet that the veteran forward believes will be the difference, but also the increased competition for places they will bring which could drive on the existing squad.

“I feel the four signings we’ve made could potentially do that,” Coppinger said.

“When we played Coventry we got beat 1-0, Fleetwood 2-1, Sunderland 2-1 at home - we’ve been so close and not been blown away by any teams.

“We just need that something to tip us the other way and potentially the four signings could help everybody else.

“Them coming in just gives us a new energy.

“Sometimes it’s just human nature to fall into thinking ‘my place is safe, no one is pushing me.’

“When you get a few people pushing me you suddenly think ‘my god, I’m going to have to start doing a bit more now.’

“Hopefully that is the case and we can then win those games we’ve lost by narrow margins.”

Coppinger - an unused substitute in Saturday’s draw with Rochdale - says the new arrivals have yet to come out of their shells but expects them to make a big impact once they do.

And he praised the new quartet for the manner in which they have thrown themselves into training as they look to get to grips with life at the Keepmoat.

He said: “They’re quite quiet. It’s only been early days but they’re fully focused.

“Their attitudes in training and the way they have conducted themselves has been first class.

“I feel like the longer it goes, the more you’ll see of them and the more they’ll come out of their shells and try to integrate with the group.”