Doncaster Rovers friendly

By: j | July 25th, 2008

The Magpies visit Keepmoat Stadium stadium later this afternoon in a interesting friendly.

Doncaster is a highly flying squad, promoted this season to the Championship League after a stunning victory over Leeds in the League One playoff at a packed Wembley this past May. Manager Sean O’Driscoll has done a remarkable job with the club and amongst a solid roster of experienced players, the Rovers play with tenacity and grit. For those inclined to look at developing players, Doncaster has two players with solid Newcastle connections that should be tracked; twenty-two year old Striker Lewis Guy who showed a new sense of maturity to his game last year and Shola Ameobi’s nineteen year-old brother Tomi who just came over from Leeds. Tomi Ameobi has just joined Doncaster, exhibits a great amount of pace and flourish and is definitely a promising prospect that could surprise people in the future.

Kevin Keegan is quite obviously being handed the task of miracle worker as transfer money has dried-up and rumoured acquisition targets such as Fabricio Coloccini are unlikely without the sale of a major talent such as James Milner. With the infirmary bursting, notably with the absence of Michael Owen and a grouping of testing issues such as the delayed arrival of Jonás Gutiérrez and Obafemi Martins horrible loss, it is a trying time for Kevin. Yet while his hands are tied tightly, I am confident of what he can accomplish with the squad.

Of particular note twenty-year old ‘keeper Tim Krul is expected to play the second-half while Steve Harper is to see the first. Expect with four ‘keepers on the roster, providing solid performances, one of the three (omitting Shay Given of-course) is likely to be shopped-around for the best offer. Watch for greater emphasis of Damien Duff and a watchful eye towards the youth movement of Danny Guthrie and James Milner.