Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann believes James Collins will be a “top signing” for the League One club once the Lincoln City striker completes his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury.
Collins joined Doncaster on loan until January on deadline day, with the move designed to give him an opportunity to play regular football before his future is reassessed by the Imps during the winter transfer window.
The experienced forward has not played during 2026 after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in our EFL Trophy meeting with Huddersfield Town last December. However, he is now approaching the final stages of his rehabilitation and is expected to join McCann’s squad in the coming weeks.
Speaking to the Doncaster Free Press, the Rovers boss explained why he was happy to bring the 35-year-old to the club despite his recent lack of football.
“I think he’ll be a really great signing for us. Somebody who has been promoted from this league, won the league twice, but also been promoted from it three times.
“Five, six promotions on his CV. An experienced leader, a goalscorer, a tremendous person. Delighted that Lincoln have given us him to come here and enjoy his football again.”
Collins has more than 200 senior goals to his name and helped us win promotion to the Championship last season. He scored 16 times in 45 appearances across all competitions before suffering his injury, having made an immediate impact following his January 2025 arrival from Derby County.
City demonstrated their faith in the striker by extending his contract until the summer of 2027, but Championship squad registration rules meant we could not guarantee him the opportunities he will require during November and December.
Sporting director Jez George explained that the loan had been arranged with Collins’ longer-term interests in mind.
“James is progressing well with his rehab and should return to team training within the timeline our medical department originally anticipated.
“What James will then need in November and December is game time, and we are not in a position for that initially to be with Lincoln City, based on the rules in the Championship of us only being able to register 25 players in our squad until the transfer window opens again in January.
“This arrangement gives James the best opportunity to get back to starting games and scoring goals at the highest possible level so that we can all re-assess everything in January, when we hope that James will be back to where he was when the injury occurred last December.”
McCann also sought to reassure Doncaster supporters about Collins’ condition, saying the forward should not be too far away from joining the rest of the Rovers squad.
“He did his ACL. That obviously scares people these days, but it’s not as big an injury as people think now. Usually with an ACL, you’re back by six or seven months. He’s well past that.
“Lincoln are obviously monitoring in terms of what he needs to tick off to get back playing. We don’t think he’ll be too far away.”
Once available, Collins will compete with Alfie May and Brandon Hanlan for a place in Doncaster’s attack. McCann also expects him to make an immediate contribution away from the pitch, comparing his personality and hunger for goals with former Rovers striker Billy Sharp.
“Over the years, we’ve always had top characters in our changing room.
“It’s massive. Even today when he was in meeting the players and introducing himself to the staff, you can just see his class and quality and character. So I think he’ll be brilliant for the changing room.
“They are similar people. Really driven and hungry to score goals. They want to be pushed.
“They want to be encouraged to do things, like just speaking to him today. So yes, similar types of profile. Both obviously made for goals, both scored in the EFL. I think he’ll be a top signing when we have him fit.”
For City, the arrangement gives Collins a clear route back into competitive football without closing the door on an Imps return. If he can regain his fitness and find his scoring touch with Doncaster, we should be in a much stronger position to assess his place within the squad when January arrives.
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