Doncaster Rovers have been handed an encouraging update on James Collins, with the striker back in training at Lincoln City and expected to link up with his loan club in a couple of weeks.
Lincoln joint head coach Chris Cohen has confirmed the experienced forward has rejoined the group as he works towards a return from the serious knee injury that has kept him out since last December.
James Collins edges closer to Doncaster involvement
The 35-year-old joined Rovers on loan until January on transfer deadline day, with the arrangement designed to provide competitive minutes during the latter stages of his recovery. He has continued his rehabilitation at Lincoln, having ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during an EFL Trophy fixture against Huddersfield Town in December 2025.
Cohen’s latest update gives Doncaster a clearer indication of when Collins could arrive, although he stopped short of setting a date for a playing return. The immediate plan is for the striker to spend another short period with Lincoln before continuing his comeback in League One.
“James has started back with the group now, which has been amazing for us,” said Cohen.
“It’ll be a couple of weeks before he goes off to Donny and gets himself some valuable minutes.vWe haven’t got the structure of a reserve league or a B team, as it were, so it’s more difficult for us to get him the games he’ll need.
“Even if we could, to go and do it in League One for a really good football team under a really good manager would be really healthy for him.”
Cohen backs Collins to return stronger
For Doncaster, the update brings the prospect of adding Collins to their attacking options a step closer. The former Luton Town, Cardiff City and Derby County forward offers considerable Football League experience, but rebuilding his match fitness remains the next stage of the process.
Cohen also praised the work Collins has put into his recovery during a lengthy spell away from competitive football. He believes that commitment will put the striker in a strong position when he is ready to play for Rovers.
“He’s going to spend a little bit of time with us and then move to Donny. Just watching James conduct himself, as I spoke to you about Tendayi a few weeks ago, it’s a really difficult thing to comprehend how long that is spent without doing the thing you love.
“Every single day you can hear Collo in the gym and see him doing the work required to put himself in a position to come back. He’s going to come back stronger and better than ever, I have absolutely no doubt. It’ll be really interesting to see how it goes for him at Donny.”
Doncaster currently sit 18th in League One with 12 points from 12 matches, two points above the relegation zone. They need goals and in Collins, they do have a prolific striker.
He netted 14 goals in 38 league appearances for Lincoln before his injury, including ten in 20 after arriving in January 2025, and he also netted 14 league goals during Derby County’s 2023/24 League One promotion campaign.
