Update on Alex Baptiste's projected return from injury for Doncaster Rovers

The centre half has been out of action since breaking down with an Achilles injury in the second match of the season, away at Rochdale.

Baptiste has begun working with the club’s sports science team on the grass at Cantley Park and boss Darren Moore revealed the 33-year-old could be ready to resume first team training by the end of this month.

“I think he’s probably another two or three weeks away before he actually joins in with the group,” Moore said.

“He’s back on the grass running and I think it’ll be a couple of weeks before he’s training with us.

“Then we’ll build him up and give him some volume in training.

“He’s done really, really well and it’s wonderful to see him back out on the training ground.

“It’s almost just a matter of time before he comes back. He’ll do a mini pre-season if you like to give him that strength.

“He’s fit. He looks good, he’s lean. He’ll be a great acquisition to have back for us.”

Baptiste signed a one-year deal with Rovers before the start of the season after completing a successful trial. A knee injury to Joe Wright had hastened the need for reinforcements.

Boss Moore has praised the former Queens Park Rangers defender for his positive mindset in handling the setback so early in his Rovers career.

“He came here on trial and did ever so well and the unforeseen circumstances with Joe Wright meant he came in,” he said.

“He had a good debut against Gillingham and was playing ever so well at Rochdale when he had one of those incidents that just happen in a game that you can’t easily explain.

“Credit to his mentality and his desire and his mindset. He’s worked with the physio and the sports science team and he’s been an absolute credit to himself to get back to this stage so soon.

“He’s nearly there but he’s got plenty of work to do.”