Darnell Johnson could be pitched straight in for his Dons debut tonight with Luke O’Neill ruled out due to a thigh injury.
Luke was withdrawn at half-time of the match at Crewe on Saturday, but the Dons have since strengthened with the loan capture of Johnson from Leicester.
Speaking ahead of Wimbledon’s trip to the Keepmoat Stadium, Glyn Hodges said: “With the injuries we’ve picked up at centre-back, Darnell may start on Tuesday. We are waiting for more information (on Paul Kalambayi and Luke O’Neill). It’s not only Paul and Luke, it’s Terell Thomas as well. Luke is more short-term, but we need everyone fit and raring to go. With PK, we are waiting for a scan, but it doesn’t look great. Luke just felt his thigh, which can happen when you have been out for as long as he has. We are hoping that Luke can recover quickly and be involved.”
Ben Heneghan and Ollie Palmer are making good progress after injuries as they have started doing fitness work with Sports Scientist Chris McConnell.
The Dons tonight take on a Doncaster side flying high in League One. Following a run of just one defeat in their last seven games, Rovers are fifth in the table with games in hand on the teams ahead of them. Our manager therefore knows that his side will have to be at their best to compete, though a 2-2 draw at Plough Lane earlier this season offers encouragement.
“We should have beaten them on our return to Plough Lane, although we had weathered the storm a little bit,” added Glyn. “Last year we went head to head with them as well. They have improved and it’s always a game when you think if we give our best it’s enjoyable. The pitch is always good, and it’s a nice place to go and play. They didn’t play their full strength team against West Ham. We are expecting a tough game, so we have done our work accordingly."
Rewind
Wimbledon's last match versus Doncaster was one for the history books as it was our first game back at Plough Lane. The first goalscorer back at our spiritual home was no surprise as Joe Pigott fired home to provide the answer to a quiz question in years to come. Following an equaliser by Matthew Smith, Pigott struck again in the 82nd minute with a goal that had appeared to be the winner, but James Coppinger scored in injury-time, the landmark match for Wimbledon ending in a 2-2 draw. Click on the link below to watch the highlights.
A look at Doncaster Rovers
Manager Darren Moore has Doncaster on the rise again and in contention for a return to the Championship. Rovers were relegated from the second tier in 2014 and in a difficult couple of years they found themselves in League 2 for the 2016/17 season. However, promotion followed at the first attempt with Darren Ferguson as manager. Steady progress has followed since and Darren Moore has built a squad rated as one of the leading lights in League One.
Fejiri Okenabirhie is top of the Doncaster scoring charts with eight goals, but the South Yorkshire side have lost one of their major attacking talents with Ben Whiteman having left to join Preston North Ene. Doncaster did made a move in the transfer market though by signing midfielder John Bostock, who was well-known in his teenage years as a bright prospect at Tottenham Hotspur after they paid a lot of money to prise him away from Crystal Palace. In recent years, Bostock has reignited his career abroad with spells at European clubs including Royal Antwerp and Toulouse. Neil Sullivan is still warmly remembered by Wimbledon and Doncaster supporters, the goalkeeper having played for the Dons in Premier League days, and made over 200 appearances for the South Yorkshire club between 2006 and 2013.