View from the opposition - Doncaster Rovers

AS: Ben Whiteman left the club this week – how big a blow is that and how big is the hole left in midfield?

LH: It is a massive blow, but it is one that everyone has been expecting to suffer for the last three or four transfer windows. It has been very surprising that it's not happened sooner.

Over the couple of seasons he's developed into the best midfielder in League One, and arguably the best player all round. This season in particular he's definitely looked like he was playing a level below his ability and at the age of 24, it would not be surprising to see him rise further in the future.

It does leave a considerable hole in midfield. Whiteman did everything as a midfielder, whether dropping deep to assist the defence or screen them, or by getting on the ball and pushing Rovers up the pitch. So much of the forward play went through him, with his superb range of passing, that it is going to take a fair amount of adjustment.

We saw positive signs last week in the win over Blackburn in the FA Cup with Whiteman not playing, but it looks very much like components of what he brought to the side will be shared around multiple players rather than being delivered in one package by one individual.

AS: How busy has the club been/will the club be in this transfer window?

LH: They took care of two important issues within the first few days of the transfer window and until Whiteman's departure, it was likely there would not be a great deal else.

After seeing goalkeeper Josef Bursik recalled by Stoke in November, they needed to secure a replacement for the rest of the season and signed Ellery Balcombe from Brentford. And they replaced West Brom loanee Rayhaan Tulloch - who has been injured since early September - with winger Elliot Simoes from Barnsley.

They are also monitoring the recovery of Southampton loanee Josh Sims and hope to extend his stay, but are likely to face competition from Championship clubs as he was excellent before his injury. If they cannot get Sims back, they will look to sign either a winger or a striker.

Now Whiteman has departed, they are looking to add at least one more player before the end of the window - and preferably sooner rather than later.

AS: Doncaster were also handed a big FA Cup tie on Monday – do you think their focus might slip in the league before the West Ham game with Liverpool or Manchester United as the reward for winning that tie?

LH: There is no danger of that whatsoever. Darren Moore would not allow it. His mantra is very much 'only focus on the next game' and he has successfully indoctrinated his players in that.

This was highlighted by the fact most of the players did not realise they had the opportunity to go top of the league for Christmas. They never look too far ahead and that is just how Moore likes it.

AS: Doncaster haven’t played since the 1-0 defeat to Shrewsbury before Christmas – will the break have done them good?

LH: It is difficult because the entire squad had ten days in isolation after six of the group tested positive from Christmas to New Year, so they haven't really been able to keep ticking over.

They did not look too much off the pace in the win over Blackburn last week but it was not a game that required too much of their usual zippiness in attack. After such a busy run up to Christmas, a rest will have been welcomed but they certainly would have liked the break to be a shorter one.

AS: What did you make of Swindon in the reverse fixture around a month ago? What are you expecting this time?

LH: I think it was another case of a side looking much better than their league position would suggest, which we've seen a few times in League One this season.

I thought Swindon were dangerous on the break and the timing of Rovers' first goal early in the second half was a big bonus. Rovers needed to move the ball quickly to combat Swindon's attempts to stop them from finding their flow, which they did very well in the first half. I did think the defensive side of things looked a little desperate from Swindon, certainly once Rovers broke through the midfield.

I think you could see the basis for improvement in that performance and I'd expect Swindon to have kicked on since then. The win last week should have done them the world of good. But, given the recent run of Rovers, I would still fancy Darren Moore's side to get the job done.