Paul Warne talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Rotherham United manager Paul Warne says he has no fresh injury concerns after the midweek South Yorkshire derby that will affect his team ahead of the trip to Wigan Athletic this weekend.The Millers boss was without captain Lee Frecklington, who picked up an injury in last weekend’s Sky Bet Championship showdown with Fulham, but the game at the DW Stadium could mark a return for him and fellow midfielder Tom Adeyemi.
Speaking ahead of the trip to Lancashire, Warne explained it would be a boost to see his skipper return to the action this weekend.
“Frecks looks like he's back and Tom Adeyemi possibly could be back,” Warne told www.themillers.co.uk.
“It's good news for Frecks and you know when he's fit because he smiles a lot more.
“That's good news and obviously I want Frecks in and around the team. I think he was getting back to something like, so it was disappointing for him to miss the Tuesday game and he is well-aware of what the [Sheffield] Wednesday game means. If I can get him involved for Saturday I will be pleased.”
Meanwhile, there were very few battle scars from the midweek encounter with Sheffield Wednesday, but Warne insists there is nothing of concern which would prevent those affected from being selected this weekend.
“Joe Newell is a bit sore, but apart from that we're okay and he should be fine for the weekend,” he continued.
“Pricey is a little bit sore, so we're not too bad really. I think Darnell Fisher could be a little bit fatigued because he's been out for six or seven weeks and played two games in three or four days. He could potentially be a problem, but we'll reassess him again tomorrow.
January arrival Ben Purrington has found himself on the bench in recent weeks after picking up a hamstring problem, but was involved in the game with Fulham last weekend.
Warne admits that whilst he will not risk aggravating the injury to the left back, he feels that he is ready for action if called upon.
“He's not 100% but he's doing more hamstring strengthening all the time,” he explained.
“He came with a little bit of a hamstring issue which has sort of been under the surface. I spoke to him a couple of hours ago and explained that I don't want to take any undue risks on him and I don't want him to go into the summer with a hamstring issue, but he knows what football is like and if I need to use him, I will.
“Obviously coming into the last games, I don't want to carry over a horrendous injury streak into the pre-season and while there will be new faces, some of them will still have psychological scarring."