Doncaster Rovers: How are the new signings shaping up?

No fewer than 12 new signings have arrived at Doncaster Rovers over the summer.
John MarquisJohn Marquis
John Marquis

So who has made the best early impression?

Striker John Marquis is leading from the front and thoroughly deserved his winning goal against Cambridge United. The 24-year-old has impressed everyone with his work rate.

“When you sign someone who has played at Millwall, with the way that the Millwall fans are, if you don’t do that bit you’re going to get lynched!” said boss Darren Ferguson this week.

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Some of Marquis’s link-up and hold-up play has also been very promising and there are little signs that him and Andy Williams are starting to hit it off.

Not far behind Marquis is winger Matty Blair.

Ferguson does not tend to play with out-and-out wingers but accommodating Blair has quickly become a must. Like Marquis, Blair brings energy and endeavour. His cross for Marquis’s goal against Cambridge was out of the very top drawer.

Growing into his role in the team is on-loan Chelsea midfielder Jordan Houghton. He is doing a very steady job sitting in front of the back four/three and has got stronger with every game.

Tommy Rowe has been fairly quiet by his high standards but showed at Accrington, where he scored a well-taken goal, the quality that he can bring.

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Riccardo Calder was arguably the stand-out performer in pre-season but playing him as a wing back did not get the best out of him.

Young centre back Joe Wright also made an excellent early impression but has since looked jittery in the games against Crawley and Cambridge, while Tyler Garratt was tentative prior to becoming the latest injury victim.

Costly mistakes have blighted goalkeeper Ross Etheridge’s first two appearances for Rovers, while Niall Mason showed good versatility and ability on the ball before suffering a knee injury.

Mathieu Baudry, Gary McSheffrey and Alfie Beestin are yet to feature this season.