Neil Redfearn gives his team news...
Rotherham United boss Neil Redfearn is anticipating the returns of duo Matt Derbyshire and Lee Frecklington as he looks to establish a settled side ahead of the visit of Ipswich Town this weekend.The Millers’ boss is pleased with the battle for places in the starting 11 and is looking forward to having a full squad to pick from.
“There’s competition now for places,” Redfearn enthused.
“People can clearly see that but I want to try and settle the side down now and people into positions in the shape so that we can get some familiarity with it.”
Last season’s top scorer Derbyshire missed out on the Sky Bet Championship clashes with Derby County and Middlesbrough having sustained an ankle injury, but Redfearn is hopeful he will return to the fray for this weekend’s action.
“Matt has got a chance and I’m pleased about that” he told www.themillers.co.uk
“He’s had an injection which will hopefully settle his knee down a little bit and taken some pressure off his ankle. He was out jogging today and he’s had no side effects and his ankle has started freeing up which is good news. He’ll train tomorrow and we’ll see how he goes.”
Captain Frecklington returned to full training on Monday having been sidelined with a calf injury in recent weeks but has impressed the Millers boss since his return to the first-team fold.
“He’s trained but he’s been out for a bit so he’s going to need a bit of a chance to get his match fitness back but he looked sharp this morning,” Redfearn explained.
“He worked hard and closed down and he’s another one that will give us competition for places.”
Mick McCarthy’s Tractor Boys pose the next challenge for the Millers who will be looking to lift themselves off the foot of the table and Redfearn is expecting a tough test when the sides meet at AESSEAL New York Stadium at the weekend.
“It’s going to be a tough game because Ipswich are a good side. They just missed out last year and they’ve had a bit of a wobble recently but now they’ve found a bit of form again. Whenever you come up against a Mick McCarthy side they’re good and well-organised.
“It’s going to be a tough game for us but we’ve got to look at it like we can go and get points out of it and I think we can."