Rotherham United boss Paul Warne spoke with iFollow Millers prior to Tuesday night's hosting of Scunthorpe in their second group stage game of the Papa John's Trophy.
The Millers go into tonight's clash off the back of a good run of form in Sky Bet League One, with their victory over Cheltenham Town on Saturday making it three wins and a draw from thier last four games.
Warne discussed his side's display against the Robins, as well as looking ahead to tonight's hosting of the Iron, with team news, the possibility of squad rotation and the chance to take a big step towards progressing into the next round on the agenda.
Warne on Cheltenham Town victory…
“We were really pleased to go there and get the points.
“It was good for Griggy to get another goal and that will just grow his confidence further after opening his account against Crewe, and I don’t think there was anyone in the ground or watching from home that wasn’t pleased for REG when his rocket went in.
“I still think we have more to come than that, but the important thing is getting three points and I thought we deserved them on the day.”
Warne on likelihood of rotating his squad for tonight’s game…
“Of course, that is what this competition allows us to do, but when we talk about rotating, I am not saying we’re going to play the under 14s.
“We’ve got a squad of players, many of whom would like to have played more first team minutes and, for me, these games are a great opportunity to get minutes into those lads.
“They are also a good opportunity for us to look at some of the younger lads and there will definitely be some involvement for those players – although Jake Cooper can’t play under the terms of his loan at Darlington and Jerome Greaves is still out injured.
“I can’t obviously speak for how we’re going to perform, but I would be surprised if anyone who had paid their entry fee to come and watch tonight regretted doing so when the teamsheet comes out.”
Warne on possibility of progressing in the competition…
“Look, we are in the business of winning football games and that’s what we’ll be trying to do again tonight.
“I know this competition isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but if it breeds confidence within the group, then I’m all for it.
“The lads that are involved tonight should want to impress us as staff and I know they will be putting everything in ahead of a fixtureless weekend with the international break.
“If somebody impresses us tonight and/or in training they’ll have a chance of keeping their shirt or displacing someone else who already has one. Every day is an interview for our players and we will never ignore someone who is standing out, whether that be at Roundwood or in a game.”
Warne on team news…
“We’ll obviously be without Chieo, Shane and JJ for this one as they have all taken their boarding passes and jetted off for international duty.
“JJ has been knocking on the door for the first team lately and this would definitely have been a game in which we would have used him, but obviously, the chance to play U21s international football is probably even better for him.
“We’re still monitoring Joe Mattock but I don’t think we’ll risk him being involved tonight.
“As I mentioned at the weekend, we’re expecting to be missing Jamie Lindsay for around five games, which is a blow. However, the international breaks that may come our way will mean that he misses less games than he perhaps might have done ordinarily so we have to take that as a plus.”