Paul Dickov hopes to tie up a deal for former Manchester City midfielder Abdul Razak today as in-form Doncaster Rovers aim for League One lift-off.
Razak, 22, is due at Cantley Park this morning to seal his switch from Greek club OFI Crete.
And the highly-rated Ivorian will be linking up with a squad who have designs on shooting up the table after Harry Forrester’s sublime late winner secured the bragging rights against Barnsley on Saturday.
Victory extended Rovers’ unbeaten run in the league to five games and moved them to within two points of the play-off positions.
Importantly, it kept the positive momentum generated over Christmas going into tomorrow night’s game in hand at home to Notts County - in which victory could now propel Doncaster into the top six for the first time since the opening weekend of the season.
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Razak, who has jumped at the chance of a return to England, could sign in time to feature against the Magpies.
“Everything’s been agreed in terms of personal terms and contract wise,” said Dickov.
“We’re hoping he’s going to come in on Monday morning and sign, and then it’s just a case of waiting for international clearance.”
After a below par performance at Oldham the previous weekend and an FA Cup exit at the hands of Bristol City in midweek, the importance of Saturday’s hard fought derby win was not lost on Dickov.
He said: “That’s five league games undefeated now - but there have been too many draws in there.
“I said to the boys at half time if we can’t win this game, don’t lose it.
“But I also said I felt this was a game we had to win.
“It keeps a bit of momentum going, it keeps the run going and it keeps the belief among the players in what we’re trying to do here.”
Dickov also paid tribute to match-winner Forrester, who came off the bench to score his fifth goal of the season.
“It was a fantastic finish,” said Dickov.
“Harry’s a special player at times, and I thought him and Nathan [Tyson] came on and changed the game.
“We left Harry out because he looked a bit jaded at Bristol and Kyle [Bennett] had been buzzing about in training.
“It’s pleasing to see lads come off the bench and make an impact; not spitting their dummies out because they’re not in the team. It shows that the spirit is good here.”
Meanwhile, Dean Furman is in contention to captain South Africa tonight in their opening game at the Africa Cup on Nations against Algeria (7pm).
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