Alan Stubbs talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Rotherham United manager Alan Stubbs says he is likely to make enforced changes to his side ahead of the EFL Cup tie with Morecambe on Tuesday night but is keen to progress in the competition.The Millers were forced to withdraw Lee Frecklington and Joe Mattock from Saturday’s curtain raiser with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Stubbs admits there could be changes in personnel for the visit of the Shrimps in midweek.
“I think there will be a couple [changes] but it’s not because of us resting players,” he told www.themillers.co.uk.
“A few of them will be forced upon us because of bumps and knocks, but it’s a competition that we totally respect and the team that goes out will be one that we feel can get a result.”
Both Mattock and Frecklington saw their afternoons come to an end on Saturday in the second half as a result of injury and Stubbs says he will wait to see if their recoveries are sufficient nearer to Tuesday night’s kick off.
“They [Mattock and Frecklington] will probably be a doubt for the game,” he continued.
“We are still just over 24 hours away from the game and we’ll see how they are closer to the kick off. At this moment in time, they are probably looking doubtful.”
Stubbs also took time to pay tribute to the job done by current Morecambe boss Jim Bentley and admits he is aware of the challenge they will pose when they arrive at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
“We know we’ll have a difficult game and you always do in this competition,” he explained.
“Jim [Bentley] has done a great job at Morecambe over the years and he’s brought stability.
“They’ve had a couple of seasons where they’ve been just outside the Play-offs. They didn’t really continue that momentum last season but they will come here with nothing to lose. When teams have no pressure on them they can prove a difficult obstacle to overcome."