MK Dons v Doncaster Rovers: Darren Ferguson at last has chance to select from strength

That is until now and after a season that has been punctuated by several injury crises at key junctures, Doncaster Rovers’ manager now finds himself picking from strength for a busy run to season’s end.

Ferguson is also afforded some relative good fortune on the logistical front with today’s trip to MK Dons being Rovers’ last significant away journey of the season with five of their last six fixtures on home soil, with a comparatively short trip to Oldham Athletic coming in their final road trip of the campaign.

More pertinently, the Scot’s strong options will enable him to freshen up his side for a hectic run of games with a top-ten finish, with a fair wind, still a possibility.

Ferguson, whose side lie in lower mid-table, but within striking distance of a number of teams above them, said: “I have got a real dilemma in terms of what 18 I pick for the (MK Dons) game and it has not been like that for a while, so I am glad to have it.

“(Tom) Anderson and (Jordan) Houghton are back training and I have a lot of numbers to pick from. (Alex) Kiwomya is fine and he will be back too. He was fine for the Gillingham game, but it was just a matter of not involving him as the others had done fine.

“My biggest problem is picking 18 players in my squad. But it is a good problem and one that I wished that I’d a bit more time with earlier.

“But it is has still come at a crucial time with the postponements and the international game. I have never been in a situation where I have had so many games in the last two weeks of the season and normally it is Saturday, Saturday, Saturday.

“But it is what it is and it will be a case of going game by game. But now I have really got the scope to freshen the team up game by game.”

Ferguson says there have not yet been conversations with any players who will be out of contract in the summer.

Five players – including captain and club legend James Coppinger – will see their deals expire in June.

Andy Williams, Mathieu Baudry and Craig Alcock will also be out of contract at the end of the season.