Doncaster Rovers v Chesterfield: Ferguson looks to free agent options after Anderson blow

The 20-year-old loan forward spent Saturday night in hospital after being stretchered off in the second half of Rovers’ 2-0 weekend loss to Rochdale with X-rays delivering a bad prognosis.

Ferguson is mindful that the clock is ticking ahead of the emergency loan deadline later this week and is keeping his eye on some free agents with whom he has previously worked, along with some loan targets.

He said: “We’ve got to make sure that it’s the right one. You can use the availability of people who are out of contract, which makes it a little bit easier.

“It gives you a little bit more scope and time to have a look at them rather than put them on permanent contracts and there’s no other clubs to deal with.

“There’s one or two I have worked with before that may be an option. We will wait and see.

“There is a possibility of having one in on loan and maybe one out of contract as well.”

He insists his side need to remain positive ahead of tonight’s derby with Chesterfield, managed by ex-Rovers boss Dean Saunders, despite Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Rochdale which ended a run of three straight wins and clean sheets.

He added: “If we win, it’s four wins out of five and why shouldn’t we be positive? We were six minutes away from four clean sheets on the bounce, so there’s plenty to be positive about. We are on a decent run, but just need to be better in certain areas of the pitch.”

Last six: Doncaster LLWWWL, Chesterfield WLWWLL.

Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).

Last time: Doncaster 3 Chesterfield 2; September 20, 2014; League One.