Alan Stubbs talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Manager Alan Stubbs is keeping his fingers crossed over the fitness of midfield duo Lee Frecklington and Tom Adeyemi who are closing in on a return to action.
Both were close to being included in the matchday squad for the weekend game with Bristol City, and Stubbs is optimistic that the extra day will allow for both to be included for tomorrow’s showdown with Philippe Montanier’s Nottingham Forest.
“They were touch and go for Saturday,” Stubbs told Millers Player HD.
“We just felt we didn’t want to take too much of a risk with their injuries in terms of them having a recurrence, and I think the extra couple of days has certainly helped those two individuals to get over their injuries 100%.”
The Millers are also monitoring the progress of Jon Taylor, Izzy Brown and Joe Newell who were all forced off during the game with Bristol City.
Whilst Stubbs admitted it was positive news on Chelsea loanee Brown, he will have to assess both Taylor and Newell ahead of the visit of Forest.
“Izzy seems fine and he trained yesterday with the group,” Stubbs confirmed.
“Tayls had a session in the pool so we're hoping that he's going to be involved in training today.
“If you look at our substitutions on Saturday, there were three injuries to players we were forced to bring off and they are three of our most influential players in the final third, and going forward as a team. When you lose that it can have an impact on the team and I certainly think those players getting injured had an effect on us going forward.”
Midfielder Newell has only recently returned to first team action after successfully overcoming an ankle problem.
Stubbs revealed that he picked up three injuries in one hit at the weekend, but he will be looked at tomorrow before a decision is made on his fitness.
“Joe (Newell) will probably be a little bit more of a last minute decision,” Stubbs affirmed.
“In one challenge he got three injuries so he has a bruised toe where the lad stood on him, he has a fracture in his hand where he was stood on, and then he had the ball hit into his face. That was all in one challenge. It was a bit unfortunate but we will have to wait and see how Joe is closer to the game.”