Doncaster in double loan deal as Moore acts swiftly

DONCASTER ROVERS have made a double loan swoop to sign Barnsley winger Elliot Simoes and Brentford goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe – with manager Darren Moore resolving two key issues in the process.

With Rovers light on creative options in the final third following Josh Sims’s loan return to Southampton and Rayhaan Tulloch’s ongoing injury issues, Moore has acted quickly to bring in Simoes, 21, who has fallen out of favour at Oakwell.

Simoes, who can operating as an attacking midfielder, No 10 or out wide, has not featured for the Reds since early November after being dropped by head coach Valerien Ismael, who was critical of his performances.

Like Simoes, Balcombe has joined for the rest of the season and has rectified a goalkeeping quandary for Rovers, who saw Joe Lumley return to parent club QPR recently.

Balcombe arrives in South Yorkshire after signing a new long- term deal with the Bees, which will keep him at the club until June 2025, with the young keeper being highly regarded.

Bees head coach Thomas Frank said: “This new contract, and the chance to go and get important minutes with Doncaster Rovers, shows the regard we hold Ellery in as a player for the future at Brentford.

“Many top players have made the step up from League One in recent years and this time at Doncaster will be a really good chance for Ellery to get vital minutes during this next stage of his development.”

Hull City head coach Grant McCann has labelled midfielder Callum Jones as a ‘ big part of the club moving forward’ after he signed a new deal until June 2023 option of a further year.

McCann said: “We see Callum as a big part of the club moving forward.

“We like his versatility – the fact he can play in numerous positions in midfield. We’ve also seen him play at right- back but we see him predominantly as an attacking No 8.

“He’s got people he can learn off in Greg Docherty, George Honeyman, Richie Smallwood, Regan Slater and Dan Batty, and hopefully he can push them to try to get in the team.”

Hull’s League One trip to Sunderland has been rearranged for Saturday and will be screened live on TV ( 7.45pm kick- off).

Meanwhilel, Harrogate Town have completed the loan signing of young Norwich City midfielder William Hondermarck for the rest of the season – following on from the capture of forward Josh March.