Doncaster v Bury preview

Doncaster v Bury preview

Published Aug. 21, 2012 1:17 a.m. ET

Doncaster are waiting to see if Paul Keegan will be fit for their first home league game of the season.

Midfielder Keegan was absent with a hip flexor injury as Rovers began life back in League One on Saturday with a 3-0 victory at Walsall.

James Harper made his debut from the bench in the West Midlands and the former Reading midfielder could be pushing for a starting role on Tuesday evening.

Despite Harper's arrival, manager Dean Saunders was still only able to name five substitutes.

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"We are going to have to bring in more players," said Saunders. "I've got some players lined up that I'd like to bring in who would help balance the squad a little bit. We had four defenders out on the pitch and James Husband was the only other one with Shelton Martis still out injured."

Saunders went on to reveal that long-serving winger James Coppinger's future is uncertain, adding: "We've had some contact with Hull but nothing has been agreed and I don't know if they are going to go through with it."

Bury caretaker management duo Peter Shirtliff and Ben Futcher have no injury worries.

Efe Sodje missed Saturday's opening league draw against Bury following his sending off in the Capital One Cup defeat to Middlesbrough and the veteran centre-back will serve the second game of a three-match ban.

Adam Lockwood made his Shakers debut alongside Mark Hughes in the heart of defence against the Bees and the 30-year-old is set to face the club he left in the summer after 179 appearances over six seasons.

Shirtliff heads into the game buoyed by public backing from Gigg Lane director Mark Catlin, who told BBC Radio Manchester of his satisfaction with the job done since Richie Barker's departure to Crawley on the eve of the new season.

"Peter is in charge at the minute and we'll give him our full backing," he said.

"He's really stepped up to the plate since Richie left. He deserves our full support and the support of the fans."

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