Steve Evans talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Manager Steve Evans is expected to make changes to his side tonight as he looks to give members of his squad valuable match time.
The Millers host Cambridge United in the Capital One Cup first round looking to get their season up and running after the opening day defeat to Milton Keynes Dons.
Speaking to Millers Player yesterday, Evans confirmed it was always his plan to make subtle changes to his line-up, ahead of what is expected to be a stern test from League Two Cambridge.
“I don’t think we have anybody in our squad that we wouldn’t term as a first-team player, and we won’t be making changes for the sake of it,” said Evans.
“We were always going to make three or four (changes), because we want to get some match time into certain players and we want to get them on the pitch. There will be some changes but less than what probably people would expect after Saturday.”
Evans confirmed that he almost has a fully fit squad to choose from with full-back Joe Mattock inching closer to full fitness. The former Sheffield Wednesday defender is expected to begin full training this week, and Evans is looking forward to seeing his summer recruit back in action.
“He could probably play at a push but we will give him the opportunity to train fully on Wednesday after the staff worked him really hard over the weekend,” Evans said of Mattock.
“I am talking before he walks into the building, but if he has come through those tough sessions with no ill effects then we are certainly looking at Wednesday. He’s fitter than he has ever been and we look forward to seeing him. We have missed him.”
Evans stressed the Millers face a tough test this evening against Richard Money’s U’s. Cambridge comfortably won their opening game against Newport County at the weekend and have been tipped as outsiders for promotion this season.
“After a few days back in pre-season someone asked me who my tips for promotion were and I said in League Two it would be Cambridge United,” Evans added.
“When you look at the quality that Richard and Jez George (Chief Executive) have been able to bring in, then they are a League One team. They will be a decent side, this isn’t an average League Two side we are playing, they are a team I wouldn’t be surprised to see in League One this time next season.”
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