Doncaster Rovers chief's Championship admission on Will Keane plus fitness boost ahead of Sheffield Wednesday derby
DONCASTER Rovers manager Grant McCann has revealed that new signing Will Keane was 'on the list' of several Championship clubs in the summer.
The much-travelled forward, 33, released by Preston North End at the end of last season, has signed a short-term deal with Rovers until January.
The Stockport-born player attended the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) pre-season training camp in Leicestershire after his contract with Preston expired in order to maintain his fitness ahead of finding a new club.
McCann said: "I spoke to him about the PFA camp. He said it was really beneficial for him.
"Just having a chat to Will's agent when he was in the other day, he was on the list of a lot of Championship clubs in the summer.
"But it sort of didn't materialise for him. And he says that the camp was really beneficial, particularly for a lot of the players who still probably haven't got clubs."
On the decision to move for Keane, the Rovers chief, whose side visit eve-of-season League One promotion favourites Leicester City on Saturday, added: "It was probably off the back of obviously the Frankie (Okoronkwo) news (the striker is out until the new year).
"Having a setback with Frankie made us sort of have a look and see what's available in the free agent market. And we felt Will was the best option for us.
"He had a few options. think he was waiting for the right sort of club for him and I'm pleased that we managed to get him. I think he'll do well for us. We've just seen today in the training session what sort of things he'll bring.
"He's really comfortable and confident on the ball and moves well. He can finish as we've seen over the years in his career.
"And he gives us another option obviously with us having Brandon (Hanlan) and Alfie (May) as the only two fit and recognised strikers in the club at this moment in time.
"It takes the burden off them a little bit and brings a little bit of experience into the changing room.
"He'll be involved in the (Leicester) game. We still have a few players obviously unavailable, but that being said, he still would have been involved. We brought him in to help us."
Saturday's game at Leicester is too early for several players making their way back to fitness. But Bayley McCann is back in the fray.
McCann continued: "I think by this time next week, we'll probably have four or five back.
"When I say four or five back, that's probably (Jordan) Thomas, (Tommi) O'Reilly, (James) Husband, (Jack) Senior and (Jamie) Sterry.
"That's probably who are more likely to be in the round than thinking for the Sheffield Wednesday game.
"I'm looking forward to having a bit of an issue and picking a team or squad really. At the minute, it's like we have what we have available.
"But sometimes that helps. Sometimes it just takes any sort of left decisions and brings the group together."