Paul Warne talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Rotherham United interim manager Paul Warne fully expects top-scorer Danny Ward to shake off a wrist injury to be available for tomorrow’s South Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
Ward suffered the injury during Tuesday night’s 2-1 defeat to Fulham, eventually being replaced in the second half by Dexter Blackstock.
After an X-ray confirmed that there was no break, Warne now expects his striker to be fit and ready to face the high-flying Owls as he looks to lead his side to their first away victory of the season.
"It was an awkward fall (at Fulham),” Warne told Millers Player HD.
“I have spoken to him today and he says it is a bit sore, but I said to him even if his hand had fallen off then he is still playing. The X-ray came back and there is no break, he will have an MRI to make sure if he does play there are no long term issues to his wrist. As it stands he is happy, he says he will play no matter what.”
The big question is whether Ward will once again partner Chelsea loanee Izzy Brown, who was also withdrawn at Fulham on Tuesday night.
Brown was substituted with a tight hamstring with Warne waiting on the results of a scan before making his final decision on team selection.
“He (Danny Ward) is, and it is the same as Izzy, in a rich vein of form,” Warne added.
“I said before that they have a bit of a ‘bro-mance’ going on, they enjoy playing together because they are both talented young players. When you are playing well you want to play no matter what.”
Should Brown or Ward not be available, Warne knows he can call upon the services of Peter Odemwingie who returns to the squad after serving a three-match ban for a sending off in the defeat to Leeds United.
"He apologised again about the sending off, he says that he owes something,” Warne reiterated.
“He is in great shape, I had a session with Broady in the gym and he also mentioned how sharp Peter was looking. Peter is pushing for a place and big games like this obviously won't faze him.”