Doncaster Rovers: New boy Neal ready for tough month

Rovers face three consecutive local derbies against Scunthorpe United, Sheffield United and Barnsley following tonight’s game before finishing the month against another top six side in Millwall.

Neal arrived yesterday on a 28-day loan from Port Vale to cover the shoulder injury suffered by Thorsten Stuckmann last week.

And he is looking forward to being thrust straight into action.

“There’s some great games this month,” Neal told The Star. “Three local derbies? What more could you want when you’re coming into a club to play some football.

“I’m really looking forward to it and it’ll be brilliant if it starts for me against Walsall.”

Neal suffered an injury at the start of the season with Vale signing Jak Alnwick, whom he has been unable to usurp from the starting role.

His desire for games coupled with Rovers’ need for goalkeeping cover proved ideal.

He said: “This was an opportunity for me to get out and get some games here.

“That is the most important thing as a goalkeeper. It’s hard to be sat on the bench for four or five months.”

Rovers yesterday sent out Gary MacKenzie on a 28-day loan to Notts County.