Stocksbridge Park Steels and Sheffield FC v Millers preview…
The Millers travel to Stocksbridge Park Steels and Sheffield FC on Tuesday evening for their fourth and fifth preseason games which come on the back of a draw and a win in Austria last week.
The Millers will be split into two teams, half will play Sheffield FC and the other half will take on Stocksbridge Park Steels.
The Millers
Rotherham are coming into these games following a 1-0 victory against Austrian opponents SC Wiener Neustadt thanks to Michael Smith’s early goal after a tight, 0-0 encounter with SKU Amstetten last Tuesday.
The Millers also overcame training ground hosts Parkgate FC in a 3-1 victory the previous Saturday courtesy of another Smith goal and a brace from Anthony Forde.
Opposition
Stocksbridge Park Steels come into this game having lost 5-1 to Sheffield United with the only Steels’ goal coming from Kane Swinburn.
Sheffield FC are yet to face a professional outfit in pre-season, meaning Tuesday night’s friendly should provide them with a stern test ahead of the 18/19 season.
Head to Head
The last meeting between the Millers and Steels was also in pre-season campaign in a game which saw the Millers win 3-0 at Bracken Moor, with Richard Smallwood, Grant Ward and Jonson Clarke-Harris all on the scoresheet.
As for Sheffield FC, it will be the first time that a Millers’ first team has travelled to the Coach and Horses Ground in recent history.
Injury News
The Millers new loan, signing Zak Vyner is set to miss tonight’s action having picked up an injury in Austria.
Midfielder Darren Potter will also remained sidelined as he continues his rehabilitation from an Achilles injury sustained last season.
Jamie Proctor is nearing a return and was heavily involved in training on the pre-season tour of Austria, but tonight’s fixtures may come too soon for him to partake. His lengthy injury which ruled him out of the successful playoffs campaign at the end of the 17/18 season, but boss Warne is hopeful of a return to action for his striker ahead of the 2018/19 campaign.