Doncaster Rovers: Latest on Liam Mandeville's fitness and why Fergie said the striker '˜needs to manage himself a bit better'

Mandeville, 20, had been expected to return to the squad against Cheltenham following a thigh injury but suffered a minor setback late last week and will now not be back in full training until Thursday.

“It had fully healed. He’d done all his rehab,” said Ferguson.

“He came back in to train with us on the Tuesday, after missing Monday because he had a cold. Something went on between Thursday and Friday because he came in with a tight thigh. I’m not really sure about that one. But he couldn’t train Friday and wasn’t involved Saturday. He won’t train until Thursday.

“It’s about knowing your body and doing certain things. I’m all for the enthusiasm and keenness to do extra.

“But you’ve got to know if there’s a certain tightness in a certain part of your body, then just leave things.

“I probably would have said that about Liam regardless of whether he’d have picked up this injury or not. I think for most young players, that comes with experience.

“It wasn’t a criticism of him. It’s as you get more experience you know it’s going to be less beneficial to show that enthusiasm if you’re going to be out. I’ve had a good chat with him. I think it’s a good lesson. As long as you learn from it, that’s the main thing.”

He added: “He’s desperate to get back because he left the team as probably the best player at the time and definitely the most creative in scoring goals.

“He’s going to do a bit of running with the fitness coach, hopefully he’ll join back in on Thursday. That would mean he would probably be fit for Saturday but whether he gets in the 18 or not, I don’t know.”