Rotherham United set to welcome back key trio for QPR trip

Rotherham are expecting to have more options at their disposal when they visit QPR tonight.
Rotherham United manager Paul Warne. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire.Rotherham United manager Paul Warne. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire.
Rotherham United manager Paul Warne. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

The Millers were injury-hit when they lost 1-0 at Swansea, with Richard Wood, Freddie Ladapo and Joe Mattock not fit.

They joined long-term injury victims Chiedozie Ogbene, Shaun MacDonald, Clark Robertson and Kieran Sadlier on the sidelines.

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However, all three returned to training on Monday and were due to be on the bus to London.

Boss Paul Warne said: “We will have Wood, Ladapo and Mattock back.

“We could have had Mattock back at Swansea, but we are playing a quarter of the season in five weeks so I don't want to take any unnecessary risks.

“Woody's hammy was a little bit sore in training on Thursday, Freddie has got a bit of a hip problem, and was sore on Friday so that is why you have got a squad.

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“You have to flip it about. It is unfortunate we had seven big players out, that doesn't detract from my disappointment at Swansea.

“I think we are significantly better than we showed.”

Warne will keep faith with goalkeeper Jamal Blackman, despite a suspect performance at Swansea.

The Chelsea loanee, recovering from an ankle injury, was at fault for the decisive goal and almost cost his side a second after a rash piece of play.

But Warne is backing his first-choice stopper, who he reselected at Swansea ahead of Viktor Johansson.

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“It was a very tough choice to pick him,” Warne said. “I had a conversation with both the keepers. Jamal, apart from the Luton game when his kicking was all over the shop, has hardly put a foot wrong.

“He has come in as my number one and I made a mistake in previous seasons where I just kept swapping the goalkeepers all of the time and no one got a fair crack at it.

“Viktor is a great keeper and I said to him, 'If you play 10 games on the spin like he has and someone game in for one game when you are missing would you expect your shirt back', and he said yes.

“That's what I think. Jamal is here to be our number one, Viktor is pushing him all of the time, if he has a bad game then Viktor will have his chance.”