Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann has addressed transfer links to Aston Villa midfielder Tommi O'Reilly following a 3-1 EFL Cup exit to Middlesbrough. The League One side, currently 20th with one point from two games, also lost defender Jamie Sterry to a hamstring injury during the midweek defeat.
McCann's team have scored just once this season and sit five points behind leaders Bradford City, with an away trip to 19th-placed Stevenage next on the fixtures schedule.
Aston Villa playmaker Tommi O'Reilly is a player Doncaster Rovers have monitored for a considerable period. The 22-year-old impressed during a loan spell at Crewe Alexandra last season, and there has been speculation this week connecting him with a move to the Keepmoat Stadium.
When questioned about the speculation, McCann remained guarded. "Look, he's a player that we like. He's an Aston Villa player. I'm not going to speak about anybody else's players," the manager stated. He acknowledged the club's desire to strengthen their attacking options but offered no confirmation of any deal.
Doncaster's cup campaign ended against Championship opposition, but McCann was displeased with two of the goals conceded. He argued that a foul on striker Alfie May was missed in the build-up to Kyle Joseph's opener, which arrived just 15 seconds after the incident.
The third goal, a finish from Jeremy Sarmiento, also drew criticism. McCann estimated the attacker was two or three yards offside, describing the strike itself as a "tremendous finish and a Championship finish." The nature of the goals compounded the frustration of an early cup exit.
The match brought a significant new concern as right-back Jamie Sterry was forced off at half-time with a hamstring problem. McCann revealed the issue appears severe, saying it "looks like his hamstring popped."
This continues an unfortunate pattern for the defender. "I feel so sorry for him because it seems like every start of the season he picks up an injury since he's been at the football club," McCann added. Sterry's absence compounds existing defensive shortages, with Tom Nixon and James Husband also currently unavailable.
Attention now turns fully to League One survival and improvement. Sitting in the relegation zone with a minus-one goal difference, the immediate focus is Saturday's match at Stevenage. It represents a key opportunity to gain ground on a direct rival and secure a first win of the campaign.
McCann will need to find solutions quickly, particularly in defence given the injury list and in attack where the team has struggled for goals. The potential addition of a creative player like O'Reilly would be aimed at addressing the latter issue. Fans can track the team's progress and league position on our dedicated standings page as they seek to climb the table.
