Josh Sims keen to extend Doncaster Rovers loan from Southampton

The winger joined Rovers on loan from Southampton in mid-October, but only until January, when the deal will be reviewed. With his Saints contract expiring at the end of the season, he has some important decisions ahead.

Even defeat at Hull City on Wednesday has not dampened his enthusiasm for life at Doncaster, where he has been able to play regular football after a start to his career dogged by injury and a loan spell in Major League Soccer cut short by Covid-19.

“One hundred per cent I'd be interested in staying,” said the 23-year-old. “I'm playing regular football now – very, very regular football! - and I'm enjoying it.

“I will sit down with Southampton and Doncaster, weigh up my options and see what's best for me when that time comes.

“It's a big few months in my career and something I'm aware of.

“I think I'm playing well although sometimes I can do better but I've not played regular football for a very long time.”

Sims has been involved in all 11 League One and FA Cup matches since his arrival, starting seven and scoring three goals.

Adapting physically to that on and off the field has been a challenge but after the frustration of a serious injury in 2017 which disrupted him after a strong start to his Southampton career, it is something Sims is more than happy to deal with.

“When I first came it would have been easy for me to go flat out in the first half and start to taper off,” he explained.

“People say you can't go flat out because it's a 90-minute match but if you do there's someone on the bench who can come on and do a job. You need to make sure you're not being lazy, but you're being smart as well. When you get on the ball you need to be ready to go but when you're playing regular football you do have that extra drive inside of you, like a second wind to keep going.

“When you're playing as regularly as you are, everyone's fit.

“When you come together on a matchday it's a team game but when you go home you need to be really switched on making sure you're as fit as you can be. It's hard to go into a game at 100 per cent but you need to be as close as you can be because when there's this many games everyone's going to be used so you can't leave anything to chance.

“I think when you're enjoying it you find that little extra in you which spurs you on a little bit.”

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