Striker will have final say on Rovers return

CURTIS Main has impressed in his short spell on loan at Athletic, without finding the back of the net.

ATHLETIC are waiting for a possible return to Doncaster for Curtis Main — but boss John Sheridan could make another loan signing before next week’s deadline.

Main (23) has impressed with his work rate at Athletic and the club is keen to keep hold of the striker.

Rovers manager Darren Ferguson stressed it would be the player’s own decision to go back, and Sheridan believes Main is keen to stay in Oldham.

Doncaster are now level on points with Athletic and firmly in the relegation mix after a catastrophic run of eight defeats in their last nine games.

With the first 28 days of Main’s loan having elapsed, Ferguson’s club appears to want him back in South Yorkshire

“They haven’t got a recall in the deal we had, but at the same time they can recall him. It is a tricky one,” Sheridan said. “We have spoken but they haven’t given me an answer and nor have I given them an answer. It is something we are trying to work around at this moment. It is a sticky one. Hopefully, we can get it sorted out.”

Ferguson said all parties must agree for Main return: “It’s not as simple as we want to bring him back,” Doncaster’s manager said. “It has to be agreed by all parties. “The lad wanted a clause that after 28 days, if we wanted it, he could come back. Clearly now the decision is the boy either comes back or he doesn’t. It would be his decision.”

Meanwhile Sheridan, who hopes still to have Main at his disposal tomorrow, confirmed he won’t be able to field Burton loan pair Matt Palmer and Timmy Thiele against their parent clubs in the televised game at the Pirelli Stadium tomorrow week. “Hopefully there will be another signing,” Sheridan added.

As for tomorrow’s clash with Rochdale, Athletic are unlikely to make wholesale changes to a side that battled to victory over Blackpool in midweek.

Sheridan will continue to field experienced winger and last season’s top scorer Jonathan Forte.

Long-term absentee Dominic Poleon is expected to be out until at least the final stages of the season, while the club are awaiting scan results on a knee injury sustained by striker Rhys Turner.