Heffernan, who will still finish top scorer with 10 goals from 19 Championship starts, is due to enter hospital for a cartilage operation today.
It means that manager Sean O'Driscoll could start with the youngest strike force since he took over at the club with teenagers Waide Fairhurst and on loan Kazenga Lua Lua in line to partner each other in attack in Saturday's final home game against Crystal Palace.
O'Driscoll said: "Paul has had a bit of a problem for a while and he's going in to have the operation straight away now that we know we will be playing Championship football again next season.
"Mark Wilson will also miss the last two matches with a torn calf muscle and Matt Mills and Gareth Roberts are both struggling to be fit for Saturday so it could be a chance to put some of the youngsters in the team.
"I've been keen to give Waide a run for some time and it also presents a chance for Kazenga."
He added that both would definitely be in the squad and would not rule out the possibility of both youngsters playing alongside each other
Speaking of this season Sean O'Driscoll said:
"I'm proud of the players and they should be proud of themselves because they have all established themselves as Championship players now.
"It's an achievement for everyone really - the fans, the players and everyone connected with the club - because we have stuck together and seen it through.
"When you look at the teams that are in the bottom three - Charlton, Southampton and Norwich - they are all big clubs who have been in the Premiership whereas we don't even have recent experience of playing at this level
For FULL story see link
http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/free-press-sport/Op-for-goal-ace-.5195393.jp
It means that manager Sean O'Driscoll could start with the youngest strike force since he took over at the club with teenagers Waide Fairhurst and on loan Kazenga Lua Lua in line to partner each other in attack in Saturday's final home game against Crystal Palace.
O'Driscoll said: "Paul has had a bit of a problem for a while and he's going in to have the operation straight away now that we know we will be playing Championship football again next season.
"Mark Wilson will also miss the last two matches with a torn calf muscle and Matt Mills and Gareth Roberts are both struggling to be fit for Saturday so it could be a chance to put some of the youngsters in the team.
"I've been keen to give Waide a run for some time and it also presents a chance for Kazenga."
He added that both would definitely be in the squad and would not rule out the possibility of both youngsters playing alongside each other
Speaking of this season Sean O'Driscoll said:
"I'm proud of the players and they should be proud of themselves because they have all established themselves as Championship players now.
"It's an achievement for everyone really - the fans, the players and everyone connected with the club - because we have stuck together and seen it through.
"When you look at the teams that are in the bottom three - Charlton, Southampton and Norwich - they are all big clubs who have been in the Premiership whereas we don't even have recent experience of playing at this level
For FULL story see link
http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/free-press-sport/Op-for-goal-ace-.5195393.jp