Steve Evans gives www.themillers.co.uk his team news...
Rotherham United boss Steve Evans has no injury concerns ahead of his side’s trip to The Valley to face Charlton Athletic in the Sky Bet Championship.The Millers travel to the capital with a fully fit squad as they continue their search for their first league win of the season.
Manager Evans bolstered his side with three deadline day signings that are yet to make first team appearances in Millers colours, but goalkeeper Lee Camp did get 90 minutes under his belt in the reserve game against Gateshead on Tuesday.
“I thought Campy was great. We worked really hard to get him in. People ask the question as to whether Kelle Roos was injured before we made the decision to bring him in but he actually got injured 48 hours after we had made the approach to Eddie Howe at Bournemouth,” he explained to www.themillers.co.uk.
“Lee Camp played in the reserves and didn’t have a lot to do apart from a couple of one-on-ones and saves. His distribution was good and that’s all you can ask. At the end of it goalkeepers can be 5’2” or 9’2” but they have to keep the ball out of the net.
“He’s had plenty of reserve games at Bournemouth but there’s nothing that beats the real action.”
Norwich City loan duo Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe and Tony Andreu joined up with their teammates following the transfer deadline and Evans is pleased with how they have settled in to life in their new surroundings.
“They’re a lot sharper and a lot fitter than they were when they first arrived. We say it every time we get a player on loan that we need to get them up to speed but we know that because they’re not the focus back at their parent club.
“It has to be said that the two lads played very well in the two practice matches we had and have fitted in really well and are part of the furniture here. I think the international break has helped to integrate them in but the two lads and Campy have fitted in as though they’ve been here all along.”
Defenders Joe Mattock and Frazer Richardson are both set to return to action at the weekend having been withdrawn in the games against Preston North End and Fulham respectively.
“All our squad is available. The plan for Joe Mattock was to get 60 minutes and he did that. He never got out of second gear in that reserve game but that’s what we asked him to do to get him a game against a young Gateshead side,” Evans enthused.
“We’ve tried to slot people in there and I think they’ve all been effective but young Joe Newell was the most effective and is a boy who’s played there at Championship level, but you lose him further up the field and Joe Mattock is now available for selection.
“It shows the desire of Frazer Richardson. He worked so hard in the summer after a disappointing end to the year with a calf injury. He’s got himself incredibly fit and the medical staff say that if you do that then you’ll recover quicker and that has proven to be the case with Frazer."