Doncaster Rovers have won their last five matches on the trot, moving into the automatic promotion spots in the early League One table. The bad news for the rest is manager Grant McCann says they are getting stronger.

McCann takes his team to Wigan Athletic on Saturday with four players added to the squad which beat Bradford City last week.

Sean Grehan and Leeds United loanee Charlie Crew are back from international duty, and right-backs Jamie Sterry and Tom Nixon from injury.

And for the first time since the opening week, they have had a midweek off as a squad.

OPTIONS: Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann (Image: Craig Hawkhead / AHPIX LTD)

placeholder image — OPTIONS: Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann (Image: Craig Hawkhead / AHPIX LTD)

"We gave them an extra day (off) in the early part of the week because it's been relentless for the last three, four, five weeks – Saturday, Tuesday games. The rest of the week has been good, we stepped up the intensity on Tuesday and prepped for the game against Wigan.

"We got stronger again this week with Sean Grehan and Charlie Crew coming back from international duty, Tom Nixon and Jaime Sterry fully on the pitches this week and Robbie Gotts stepping up his recovery and edging closer."

One player whose availability Doncaster can take for granted is Owen Bailey, who is set to start his 100th consecutive league game for the club. But it is about more than just durability with the midfielder, who was this week named League One player of the month for August.

"In terms of professionalism he's probably one of the best I've worked with," said McCann.

100 CLUB: League One player of the month for August Owen Bailey is set to make his 100th consecutive league appearance (Image courtesy of the EFL)

"He's probably had 400 or 500, maybe 600 training sessions he's not missed either! It's unbelievable the amount of dedication for the boy to do that and he just embraces it every day, (he's) always got a smile on his face."

Ryan Lowe's Latics should provide Rovers with a good footballing test.

"They've had a bit of an up-and-down start," reflected McCann. "I really like their manager. Ryan's somebody I now quite well and I've come up against a few times. He did a tremendous job at Preston in the Championship and now at Wigan.

"I like them, I think they're a good footballing team with some really excellent technical footballers so again it's going to be another tough game."