Doncaster Rovers v Hull City: Huge financial motivation to win, says Ferguson

DONCASTER ROVERS manager Darren Ferguson admits that he could not begin to guess what Hull City line-up will take the field this evening.
Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Ferguson (Picture: Marie Caley).Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Ferguson (Picture: Marie Caley).
Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Ferguson (Picture: Marie Caley).

The threadbare Tigers, decimated by a long injury list, are expected to make a number of changes, with a Championship game looming on the horizon against Bolton on Friday night.

The visiting squad will not include midfielder Sam Clucas after the club accepted a big-money bid from Swansea, with the move expected to be sealed today or tomorrow.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It is understood that the deal is worth £15m with another potential £1.5m in add-ons.

Meanwhile, Hull are working on several incoming deals and are close to signing Swansea left-back Stephen Kingsley. Arsenal forward Jon Toral is another target.

On Saturday, Tigers manager Leonid Slutsky saw Kevin Stewart (ankle) and Frazier Campbell (thigh) become the latest additions to a congested treatment room that is also inhabited by David Marshall, Evandro, Markus Henriksen and Abel Hernandez, along with long-term casualties Ryan Mason, Moses Odubajo and Will Keane.

Youngsters Greg Olley, James Weir, Greg Luer and Dan Batty could be handed starts tonight.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ferguson said: “It is a big test. I watched them against Wolves and they have got a real threat with a lot of pace in the team.

“(But) they have picked up a lot of injuries and have about nine or ten players out.

“So I have no idea what sort of team they will play.

“But if they go with the first-team players, they have obviously got real quality with a lot of pace in the wide areas.

“I suppose their manager has got a decision to make, whether he thinks that they need a win, so he goes with the strongest team he can, or he thinks, ‘just forget it, we will go with the kids’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“That is probably the choice he has got. But you would imagine he will utilise what squad he has got.

“We feel it is a winnable game and that is not being disrespectful. It has to be a huge motivation to get to the third round and it can change everything financially.”

Rovers have no fresh injury worries, but Ferguson is likely to make some changes this evening.

Ferguson, who says he is mulling over who will start up front with Alfie May, has confirmed that defender Mathieu Baudry’s absence with an Achilles injury is likely to be a week or two longer than expected.