Gaffer hints at new ‘keeper debut.
Darren Ferguson has said that is likely new boy Chris Neal will make his debut when Rovers host Walsall on Tuesday evening.Neal, aged 30, made a 28 day loan switch from fellow League One side Port Vale and is at the forefront of Ferguson’s thoughts following an injury to regular stopper Thorsten Stuckmann.
“Thorsten’s got a badly bruised shoulder so he won’t have a chance of Tuesday or Saturday so you’re probably looking at – best case scenario – him being back for the Sheffield United game but we’ve brought in Chris (Neal) anyway so there’s no such panic there,” opened Ferguson.
“He’s ready to play, he needs to get back playing, and he’s not done so for a while.
“He’s had an injury or so and the young lad that’s gone in at Port Vale (Jak Alnwick) has done very well while he’s been out.”
Ferguson was swift to make the acquisition of Neal, who has won promotion before with both Shrewsbury Town – where he worked with Rovers goalkeeping coach Paul Gerrard – and the Valiants.
“He’s got good experience; a couple of promotions on his CV which I think is always good. He’s got a good mentality so he’ll come in and bring some competition,” he said.
“We have young Marko (Marosi) as well, it was whether to go with him or get a bit more experience in. I always felt that I needed to bring one in anyway as the young lad below Marko is too young.
“Chris has got that experience; he’s played a lot of games so we won’t have to worry about that.
“There’s a good chance (of him playing against Walsall), it’s either him or Marko who did really well having watched the game back against Port Vale. Obviously with the big man out, we’ll go with one of those two.”
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