Paul Warne gives his team news ahead of the visit of Blackburn Rovers...
Rotherham United interim boss Paul Warne says he will welcome the return of Cardiff City midfielder Tom Adeyemi to his matchday squad for this weekend’s game against Blackburn Rovers, but will be without other key players for the clash at AESSEAL New York Stadium.Whilst performing his press duties on Friday morning, the popular fitness coach confirmed that the ex-Norwich City midfielder will return to the fold, but skipper Lee Frecklington, Lewis Price, Aïmen Belaïd and Darnell Fisher would all miss out.
Adeyemi was absent for the trip to Ashton Gate last weekend through illness but is set to return to action, although Warne admits there is plenty of competition for a starting berth in central midfield.
“Tom's trained well the last couple of days and we've been working on the front five and six and he's been a big part of that,” Warne told www.themillers.co.uk.
“He looks fine and will be in contention for the weekend but there will be other ones who are trying to grab the shirt off him.”
Meanwhile, Frecklington appeared to be making good progress in his recovery from an ankle operation but will not return in time for the weekend’s game against Rovers, after a setback in training this week.
“Regrettably he's taken a bit of a downturn which is a blow for us, for him and the team,” Warne continued.
“He plays a massive part in the way I want to play and he breaks the lines really well and it's a massive disappointment for him and everyone at the club. Everyone is keen to get him back, but he trained with the squad on Tuesday and dropped out a bit sore and today he's sore again.
“We're hoping that with a bit of rest it will settle down and he'll go again next week. Unfortunately, he won't play a part this weekend, which I was hoping he would.”
“It's difficult with Frecks and it's probably why I get on with him, because I see a lot of myself in him. You are player-led with recovery and if he feels good you go up to the next level but unfortunately, maybe he went too many levels too quickly.”
Defensive duo Belaïd and Fisher had both been targeted returns for when Yorkshire meets Lancashire in the Sky Bet Championship this Saturday, but the caretaker boss admits the game has come a little too soon for the pair to feature.
“As I said when they got their injuries it will be at least two weeks, which it is this weekend,” Warne explained.
“They were on the grass again today and they were running, but not at full pace, so it will probably be 72 hours too soon.
“I think both will be in contention to be in full training on Monday and we need to get them on the grass before then to give them any chance we can to play against Huddersfield on the Tuesday.”
Laurence Bilboe is likely to once again deputise Richard O’Donnell as the Millers’ keeper on the bench this weekend, after the returning Lewis Price suffered some misfortune in contracting an illness as he recovers from a rib injury.
“It was very good news about Pricey until today,” Warne added.
“He trained on Monday lightly with Polly, and then Tuesday a bit harder and then full training on Thursday. Unfortunately, he's now got an illness.
“He'll probably be out of action for a few days and he's hugely disappointed because he'd been out for a while with his rib and got himself back into training. He loves training and being part of this club, so he's just very unlucky at the moment."