Rotherham United: Paul Warne could be forced to patch up squad for Portsmouth trip

Rotherham United boss Paul Warne has injury worries to contend with ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Portsmouth.
Chiedozie OgbeneChiedozie Ogbene
Chiedozie Ogbene

The Millers’ stunning 3-2 comeback victory at MK Dons on Saturday came at a cost with several players picking up knocks.

Matt Crooks, Michael Smith, Clark Robertson, Billy Jones, Kyle Vassell and Matthew Olosunde are all working the physios hard.

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Joe Mattock and Shaun MacDonald are still sidelined to add to Warne’s problems, but Chiedozie Ogbene’s return from suspension at least provides some good news.

"There were a few knocks and niggles after MK Dons and we've had half a dozen players in the treatment room this morning, but we're hoping that there's nothing that's particularly major,” assistant boss Richie Barker said.

"We'll go out on the training pitch and we'll put a few through their paces before travelling down to Portsmouth, so hopefully we'll get up in the morning and any 50/50 situations will go in a positive way after a good night's sleep.”

Rotherham head to Fratton Park in fine fettle after claiming their sixth win in eight League One matches at Stadium MK, leaving them fourth in the table.

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But Barker said: "This league table now will be irrelevant in five months time.

“It is about point accumulation and at the moment, we've got the tally we'd been hoping for and we're not at the halfway point of the league yet.

"There is a long way to go but we've given ourselves a chance. We also know we're on a good run of form.

“Somewhere along the line there will be a sticky patch, but to be successful it is about how small you can make that and how successful you can make your real good times."

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Pompey are starting to put results together following a slow start and are 11th, five points off the play-offs.

Barker is looking forward to the contest on the south coast.

"It's a quick turnaround, but when you're winning that's happy days because you want the games to keep coming,” he said.

“This is a game between two very in-form teams and both are looking to try and get into the top six come the end of the season.

"I'm expecting it to be a decent game as they're right up there in the home form table and we're right up there on the road, so maybe something gives or it happens to be something in between."

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