Portsmouth v Doncaster Rovers - Darren Moore backs rookies to tackle ‘new territory’

Some of Doncaster Rovers’ youngsters are about to embark on new territory with 16 League One matches squeezed into 2020’s final 11 weeks, plus FA Cup and Football League Trophy ties.
Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Moore.Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Moore.
Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Moore.

With the help of Rovers’ senior professionals and the conditioning work he has put into them, manager Darren Moore believes they can cope but a long trip to Portsmouth for today’s game, followed by a quick turnaround to Tuesday’s visit of Ipswich Town, will be the first test.

“Some of them will be going into new territory playing two games a week but we feel we’ve got some seasoned pros that can help the younger ones reach those levels and find that consistency,” said Moore, who has players on loan from Arsenal, Southampton, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion.

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Moore has had to balance preparations with the final week of transfer dealing, and must now assess if deadline-day arrivals Josh Sims and Matt Smith are ready to make debuts.

“You are trying to prepare for a game, you’ve got to travel and you’re trying to recruit so it’s really demanding,” Moore said of having a deadline 22 hours before an away game. “It’s important the players don’t feel left out because the window has to be secondary.

“We’ve already been working towards the game so it’s 50-50 (if the new signings will play). We’ll give it to the last minute.”

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