Southampton: Josh Sims is enjoying superb start to Doncaster loan spell

Southampton loanee Josh Sims has enjoyed a superb start to his loan spell with Doncaster Rovers in League One.

The 23-year-old joined “Donny” on English transfer deadline day last week and will spend the season with Darren Moore’s side in the third tier.

Not even he could have dreamt of the start that he has made since arriving though.

The Saints academy graduate made his an instant impact in his first appearance against Portsmouth – much to the enjoyment of Saints fans on social media.

Having been sent on shortly after the hour and with the game tensely poised at 0-0, Sims found space down the right and produced the perfect cutback for Reece James to plant a fine finish past  the home goalkeeper.

Tuesday evening saw Sims put in a brilliant creative display to add no less than three more assists to his season’s tally against Ipswich Town.

He started the game and saw Doncaster fall behind to an early own goal, but the hosts at the Keepmoat Stadium were level on 28 minutes.

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Sims’ contributions started shortly before half-time when he received a short corner and moved the ball to Ben Whiteman just outside the penalty area. The midfielder looked to cross towards the far post but saw the ball sail into the corner of the net instead to make it 2-1.

If this assist was more luck than skill, Sims then took things up a level to push Doncaster to an eventual 4-1 victory.

After missing a decent chance of his own, he sped beyond the Ipswich right-back and forced a foul inside the penalty box – Whiteman dispatching the spot-kick after seeing his teammate win it.

Then on 64 minutes, Sims was alert to steal the ball with the visitors looking to play out from the back and set up the perfect opportunity for Fejiri Okenabirhie to fire home the fourth.

Saturday then saw the Saints loanee register his first goal for his latest loan club, even if it came in a 2-1 loss.

Doncaster had fallen behind in the 26th minute but produced Sims’ goal just a minute later – the Saints man receiving the ball on the left side of the penalty area and bending a nice finish into the far corner of the net.

After a strong start to 2020/21, Doncaster sit seventh in League One and look set for a good season with Sims pulling the strings in attack.