Doncaster Rovers 2 Nottm Forest 2: More to come from Macheda, warns Dickov, as his loan star grabs double to frustrate Forest

Doncaster's Federico Macheda celebrates the first of his two goals.

Macheda never had a chance to record a hat-trick on his home debut after being substituted 20 minutes from time but Dickov said after the home draw with Nottingham Forest: “He’s not had a lot of games recently and we had to bring him off.

“But the boy is going to be a top player. He came here when he had a chance to join bigger clubs because he just wants to play football.

“He’s been unlucky with some of the clubs he’s been at on loan. I think one of them lost their manager soon after he arrived so I’m just happy to still be here.”

Dickov added: “Joking apart I think he will maybe take three or four games to settle in before we see the best of him.

“There’s a lot more to come from him – I’m certain of that.”

Macheda fired Rovers in front after latching onto a pass from Theo Robinson in the 35th minute and restored the lead with a superbly-crafted goal in the 52nd minute after Chris Cohen had equalised.

Cohen scored with a powerful shot in the 40th minute and it needed another spectacular strike from Andy Reid to snatch a point nine minutes from time.

Dickov added: “We’re possibly a little bit disappointed not to have three points after twice being in front but first and foremost it was a fantastic game of football between two teams that really wanted to win. I changed the side around because we wanted to be brave and bold and really go for it by playing three strikers.

“Some of the football we played against a top team that will be up there at the end of the season was magnificent and it shows we can be competitive and get better in this league.”

Forest boss Billy Davies said: “We might have gone on to win the game after grabbing the second goal but a point’s a point away from home.”

Doncaster Rovers: Turnbull, Wabara (Quinn 58), Khumalo, Jones, Husband, Furman, Keegan, Robinson (Cotterill 82), Wellens, Macheda (Coppinger 70), Brown. Unused substitutes: Duffy, McCullough, Maxted, Bennett.

Nottm Forest: Darlow, Lichaj, Hobbs, Halford, Cohen, Chalobah (Majewski 63), Abdoun (Paterson 63), Reid, Lansbury, Mackie (Derbyshire 70), Henderson. Unused substitutes: Collins, Moussi, De Vries, Jara.

Referee: A Haines (Tyne & Wear).