Doncaster Rovers transfer news: The two signings charged with upping Rovers' goal threat
Doncaster Rovers have made their third and fourth signings of the transfer window before the first week is out as they look to address their inability to turn chances into goals.
They have raided the Premier League loan market and turned to a face very familiar to manager Grant McCann to address the problem.
Frankie Okoronkwo has joined on loan after a disappointing first half of the season at Lincoln City, and Hakeeb Adelakun has signed up for a second spell at Doncaster, and third working for McCann.
“Frankie is a player we’ve been aware of for a couple of years, ever since he played here against us in the EFL Trophy (in September 2023)," he said of Okoronkwo, who can also play on either wing but appears to be seen by McCann primarily as a centre-forward.
“We’ve kept an eye on him.
"He had a really good loan at Salford last year and looked really threatening for them until he picked up his injury. And then in the first half of this season he’s been in and around a winning team at Lincoln and contributed to what they are and what they’re doing at this time.
“He’s a young centre-forward, powerful, quick, aggressive. He gives us the option of going in to him or go in behind teams as well."
The 21-year-old scored his only league goal of his Lincoln loan in November's 2-1, playing as a right-footed left winger. It was one of only three league starts for the Imps.
His only other goal in 20 appearances in all competitions for them came earlier that week at Barnsley in the Football League Trophy.
He scored four goals in 24 appearances on loan at League Two Salford City last season.
Born in Blyth, Okoronkwo started in Sunderland's academy before joining Everton's, but has not made a senior appearance for the Toffees.
The loan will take him to the end of his contract.
Winger Adelakun joined as a free agent after 12 appearances for Cheltenham Town, who he joined on a short-term deal in November. He scored three goals for the Robins.
The 29-year-old scored nine goals in 21 appearances to propel Rovers into the League Two play-off places in the second half of 2023-24.
He split 2020 between loan spells at Rotherham United and McCann's Hull City.
According to WhoScored.com, Doncaster are ninth in League One for shots this season, yet Northampton Town are the only team outside of the relegation zone to have scored fewer than their 24 league goals.
McCann said over Chrismtas that finding more cutting edge would be important for him in this transfer window.