Rotherham United: Warne has yet another injury to contend with ahead of Southend trip

Rotherham manager, Paul Warne during the FA Cup, second round match at Damson Park, Solihull. PA Photo. Picture date: Monday December 2, 2019. See PA story SOCCER Solihull. Photo credit should read: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications

The Millers look set to be without a number of players, with Matthew Olosunde the latest issue.

The right-back was due to have a scan on an injury on Thursday and Warne rated him as doubtful for the long trip to Essex.

Billy Jones, Richard Wood and Shaun MacDonald remain out, Clark Robertson and Matt Crooks are playing through the pain, while Warne has also said he has worries over several players he does not want to make public.

There could be better news with Trevor Clarke, who appears to have overcome an ankle issue, while Joe Mattock may be able to play after returning to training following a back injury.

"We have got a few issues, to say the least,” the boss said. “I've got a few issues that I don't really want to promote publicly.

“We will put a strong side out anyway, but I've got a couple of issues out wide and a couple in the middle of the park.

“Joe Mattock trained tentatively on Tuesday but I'm hoping he's fine.”

The Millers will be hoping to strengthen their promotion bid with a win at Roots Hall, where the Shrimpers have lost eight of their nine games there this season.

Despite some patchy form, especially at home, Warne's men are just two points off third position and the boss is content.

“Two points off third isn't bad,” he said. “Considering that and we haven't really hit the heights I want to at home then it is OK.

“We have got a really tough lot of fixtures coming up, but they are teams in and around us so if we can win them we can have even more of an impact.”

Meanwhile, the club have reported a pre-tax profit of £2.7million for the 2017/18 campaign.

With the club in the Championship, turnover increased by £4million, thanks largely to more EFL money, increased gate receipts and commercial income.

Warne missed out on the League One manager of the month for November, with Gareth Ainsworth winning the gong.