Why Doncaster Rovers defender is happy there will be fans to drown out noise from players this weekend

And Doncaster Rovers full back Reece James admits it has been difficult not to feel a little self conscious during games so far.

So he believes playing in front of a crowd again this weekend will help ease worries that players are giving the game away as they speak to each other.

Rovers’ trip to Charlton Athletic has been selected as one of ten pilot events across the EFL for the return of supporters to stadiums, with 1,000 home fans allowed into The Valley on Saturday.

“I think it’ll feel completely different,” James said.

“With games so far, everything that is said on the pitch is able to heard.

“Even when a small number of fans are there, that will be less.

“It’s something that might be in your mind at the start of games. But when you’re in a game, you could be in front of 70,000 fans, 2,000 fans or no one and the mentality for players and staff, you switch off to what is going on and try to focus on what is happening on the pitch.

“For a tactical point of view, it might be a bit different because you can hear a lot more things.”

James believes seeing fans in the stadium this weekend will deliver a major boost to the game, as well as wider society as the country looks to rebuild in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

So far, Cambridge United’s EFL Trophy clash with Fulham U21s last week is the only professional football match to have taken place with fans present in England since early March.

“It’s great after what has happened over the last few months,” James said.

“It’s been strange playing behind closed doors but seeing fans back in the stadiums will be a massive plus for everyone in the sport and everyone in general.

“It’s great to see everyone being able to be back in and I know a lot of people will be champing at the bit to be back in.”

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