Doncaster Free Press

Doncaster Rovers turn their attentions away from the league in midweek as they prepare for a glamour Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur.

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Grant McCann's side will pit their wits against the Premier League giants and four-times winners of this competition in the third round stage. The fixture with Spurs is their reward for victories over Middlesbrough and Accrington Stanley respectively.

Here are all the major details regarding the game:

When is the game?

The match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is on Wednesday, September 24. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

Can I still get a ticket?

No. Rovers supporters quickly snapped up all 3,900 tickets for the game against Thomas Frank's side.

Is it on TV?

For those not lucky enough to get hold of a golden ticket for Wednesday's clash, fear not. The game will be beamed live on TV. It is being shown on Sky Sports + and coverage gets underway at 7.40pm.

What about highlights?

For those unable to stream or watch the game live, there'll be a dedicated highlights programme being shown. Be warned though, it's on at a strange time. You'll have to wait until 11.45am on Thursday (September 25) to watch it on ITV4. Failing all of that, of course the Free Press will be in attendance in North London with ample coverage throughout the game on Twitter/X and all the usual staples post-match and throughout Thursday on our website.

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James Maxwell insists he and his Doncaster Rovers colleagues will "embrace the challenge" of pitting their wits against Tottenham Hotspur.

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After a blip of successive league defeats, Grant McCann's men now turn their attentions to the League Cup. League One Rovers visit the Premier League side on Wednesday night in the third round of the competition with the glamour tie a reward for seeing off both Middlesbrough and Accrington Stanley respectively in the previous two rounds.

Neutrals will probably not give much of a chance to Rovers as they plot an upset against a team that lifted the Europa League just four months ago. But full-back Maxwell says that this team's approach under McCann means they'll always aim to get the victory, regardless of the calibre of opposition.

"Having worked with this manager a long time now, we'll be going there to try and win the game," the Scot, who brought up a landmark of 100 Rovers appearances in Saturday's loss to Wimbledon, told the Free Press.

"We won't be sitting in and letting the game just pass us by. It's a nice change of pace for us and a good game for the boys. It's a good opportunity for us both as a team and individuals to test ourselves against a team that's playing in the Champions League this year. That's something you don't get to experience too often so we have to go there and embrace the challenge and put our stamp on the game as well."

Maxwell was an unused sub up at the Riverside in round one but played the full 90 minutes in a workmanlike win at Stanley in the next round. Regardless of who McCann selects, the former Glasgow Rangers man believes the strength in depth is there for all to see.

"The competition is probably the best I've seen it at the club," he adds. "Even if we have couple of injuries or players missing we're still able to put out a really strong team out. That was the case last year but it's been added to even more this season. Whatever team we play on Wednesday night it'll be strong enough to compete I'm sure."

Doncaster Rovers have a mouth-watering trip to Tottenham Hotspur on the horizon next week.

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Grant McCann's side travel to the Europa League champions in the third round of the Carabao Cup. And amid an all-star cast of internationals that they could face, there's now one player who definitely won't feature next Wednesday. Dominic Solanke is set to be sidelined as he continues his recovery from an ankle-related injury.

The three-times capped England forward, signed for a fee that could rise as high as £65million a year ago, has not featured in nearly a month and is yet to start a match this season.

Speaking to the media ahead of Spurs' weekend Premier League trip to Brighton, manager Thomas Frank said of the 28-year-old: "The positive thing is that he's back (training) on the grass, he's been there for three, four days and progressing forward, slowly, but forward.

"It's too early for him (at Brighton) tomorrow, too early for Doncaster, but the positive is that he's on the grass and progressing forward."

Other players Spurs will definitely be without for Rovers' visit include long-term injury victims Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski and England international James Maddison.

Whilst Spurs are at Brighton on Saturday, McCann’s men will be attempting to find a way past fellow newly-promoted side AFC Wimbledon.

Doncaster Rovers have discovered the date and time of their mouth-watering Carabao Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

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Grant McCann's side earned a big reward for beating Accrington Stanley in round two of the competition, when they were handed a trip to the Premier League giants and Europa League champions.

It's now been confirmed that the game at the world-class facilities at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will take place on Wednesday, September 24 with a 7.45pm kick-off. Rovers have been handed an allocation of 3,900 tickets – priced at £30 adults and £10 for those aged 17 and under.

Demand for tickets is expected to be mightily high, with Rovers fans undoubtedly keen to visit the plush stadium that first opened in 2019.

Rovers will take on a Spurs side bossed by Thomas Frank and boasting players such as Richarlison, Micky van de Ven and new arrival Xavi Simons.

Speaking to the Free Press after the draw was made, McCann reflected: "It's a fantastic draw for everyone connected to the football club.

"We've had two tough away draws (Middlesbrough and Accrington) and now an even tougher third away draw! We don't seem to get home ties do we? But it's nice and I'm sure financially it'll be a nice money-spinner for the club because I believe there's a gate receipt share so if it's a big crowd it'd be nice for the club."

Doncaster Rovers filled their boots in the first leg of their friendly double-header, swatting aside non-league Stamford 5-0.

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Whilst a heavy win and a clean sheet will have undoubtedly pleased manager Grant McCann, more goals for new signings Brandon Hanlan and Damola Ajayi and a string of impressive showings elsewhere will have mattered more as the new season peers closer into view.

The hosts, who ply their trade in the seventh tier of English football, proved tricky customers early doors with Ian Lawlor almost gifting them the lead after getting his feet tangled after a dicey backpass. Thankfully he cleared the danger just as a home attacker got ready to pounce. New centre-half Sean Grehan then did excellently to clear a goalbound, Rhys Sharpe shot off the line just before the 20-minute mark.

After shaking off those scares, Rovers then assumed control of the game and never really looked back. After Tom Nixon and Ajayi both went close with efforts, Hanlan fired home from close-range to finish off a fine, sweeping move. That lead was doubled just minutes later when Ajayi, a livewire all afternoon, picked up the ball on the right of the area and proceeded to find the bottom-left corner with a precise finish.

The Spurs winger, signed on a season-long loan, made it two in two (like Hanlan) after also netting at Alfreton last Tuesday. He dazzled here, with plenty of encouraging link-up play with full-back Nixon throughout the game.

Rovers picked up where they left off after the restart with Jack Senior finishing inside the box for the third and then Harry Clifton tapping in a fourth after a period of pinball in the Stamford box. And Ajayi added the icing on the cake late on with his third of pre-season: curling in a sumptuous, left-footed effort from distance for goal number five.

The sight of Joe Ironside coming on for the last half-hour was another welcome boost for McCann who, along with his staff and a smattering of Rovers fans, made a prompt exit at the final whistle to head straight down to Peterborough Sports for the second leg of this double-header.

Rovers: Lawlor, Senior, Flint, Grehan, Nixon, Clifton, Close, Sbarra, Ajayi, Hanlan (Ironside 59), Hurst

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Doncaster Rovers have signed Tottenham Hotspur youngster Damola Ajayi.

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The 19-year-old winger arrives at the Eco-Power Stadium on a season-long loan arrangement for the forthcoming League One campaign. He has played one senior game for Spurs, making a scoring debut in their Europa League victory over Elfsborg back in January. Just weeks prior to that breakthrough moment Ajayi penned a long-term deal with Spurs, until the summer of 2028.

Ajayi, who came through the academy at Bromley, was an unused substitute in the Europa final at the end of last season as they sealed the trophy thanks to a win over Manchester United.

New Tottenham chief Thomas Frank has now given the green light for Ajayi to head to South Yorkshire in the next phase of his development. Capable of playing on either flank, Ajayi will compete out wide with Luke Molyneux, Jordan Gibson, Kyle Hurst and new arrival Glenn Middleton.

Rovers have now made six summer signings: Goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala is on a season-long loan from Hull, whilst Matty Pearson, Middleton, Robbie Gotts and Brandon Hanlan have all arrived on permanent deals. Rovers are also closing in on another centre-half after striking a deal with a Premier League club. That arrangement would see the player arrive on a permanent, rather than a loan.

The Rovers squad returns to Cantley Park tomorrow morning (Wednesday) for the start of pre-season training. They then jet out to Spain on Sunday for a warm weather training camp with their maiden friendly pencilled in for Tuesday, July 8 away at Alfreton.

A new name has been linked with a summer move to Doncaster Rovers.

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Damola Ajayi, the Tottenham Hotspur winger, is reportedly in 'advanced talks' over a move to South Yorkshire. That's according to respected transfer journalist Pete O'Rourke. Writing on Twitter/X, he posted: "Tottenham youngster Damola Ajayi is in advanced talks to join Doncaster Rovers on loan."

Ajayi, 19, came through Bromley's youth system before moving to Spurs in 2022 when he signed a professional contract. He has made just one senior appearance for Spurs, when he came off the bench in January's 3-0 Europa League win over Elfsborg and scored with one of his first touches.

He was an unused substitute in the final of that competition when Spurs overcame Manchester United back in May. He extended his deal with Tottenham earlier this year and is under contract until 2028.

Whilst that deal would be a loan arrangement, the Free Press understands Rovers are close to confirming the arrival of a centre-back from a Premier League side on a permanent basis. It's hoped the deal could be announced later on Tuesday and it would represent the sixth arrival this summer. Rovers’ players return to Cantley for pre-season training on Wednesday, with the fixture schedule for 2025-26 being released a day later.