Neil Warnock speaks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Rotherham United boss Neil Warnock will wait on the fitness of ex-Leeds defender Frazer Richardson but could have Danny Ward and Jerome Thomas back in time for the Yorkshire derby at AESSEAL New York Stadium.The Millers will be boosted by the returns of attacking duo Ward and Thomas, who were both ruled out of the Sky Bet Championship meeting with Ipswich Town, and will give Warnock a selection headache in the final third.
Rotherham-born Richardson has raised eyebrows with the speed of his recovery from a muscular injury and Warnock admits he could be involved in the all-Yorkshire clash at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
“I think he will be actually,” Warnock admitted.
“I didn’t think he would on Monday but he’s come on really well so he joined in yesterday and we’re going to have a look to see if there are any adverse effects and we’ll decide then.”
Meanwhile, Ward has had the extent of his back injury assessed by a specialist in the capital and the Millers boss is confident they have determined the problem and how to deal with it going forward.
“We managed to get hold of one of the top guys in London and he went down with Mike the physio on Tuesday and they think they have got to the bottom of it,” Warnock told www.themillers.co.uk.
“It’s something he’s going to have to live with and its not one that needs operating on. He has to do certain exercises and he’s got to step those up to ensure he’s got the strength.
“He’s buzzing on the training ground again and he’s looking forward to it.”
Elsewhere, Jerome Thomas will provide another option on the wing and is set for a return in time to face his former employers Leeds United, but the Millers boss was quick to add that he won’t rush members of his squad back into action.
“Jerome is buzzing and firing on all cylinders. Frazer we’ll have a decision on today and other than that, there’s just Aïmen who is a little bit sore from the reserves.
“I’ll be pulling one or two out of training, even this morning from the game that we have at the end because we don’t want to risk one or two before Saturday now.
“We’ve got to keep everybody happy because anything could happen and in a split second you’re in it and you’ve got to do your job. That’s what I’ve noticed, the back up players are really good as well and you don’t often get that at a club,” Warnock added.
“They’re a good group of lads and as I’ve said in the past, we are a bit limited but we make up for that in other attributes we’ve got. The lads are really looking after each other and that’s what you need, that camaraderie at this level.”
The midweek reserve outing against Doncaster Rovers gave a number of the players on the fringes an opportunity to impress with Warnock watching on from the sidelines and the Millers boss was delighted with the application of a number of his senior pros.
“I thought the attitude of people like Burke and Buxton was superb and they couldn’t have done any more,” he explained.
“I can’t fault the effort and commitment, it’s just getting the shirt. I think they’re all aware of that and the lads that have got the shirts are aware of that as well, so it’s good to have competition like that."