Rotherham United: Paul Warne rules out free agent signing

With the transfer window now shut, the only way clubs can sign players is through the free transfer market.

Warne has been hit with the absence of defender Sean Raggett, who has undergone surgery on an ankle injury which looks set to keep him out until December.

The manager is content with his options, even though Raggett's likely replacement Clark Robertson is also struggling with a groin problem and is a doubt for this weekend's visit of Derby.

'I am well happy with my squad,' Warne said. 'I have got two players for each position apart from Joe Mattock at left-back.

'I am pretty comfortable, I never get too downhearted about injuries, it's a part of professional sport, it's just next man up.'

Raggett went under the knife on Monday and Warne has confirmed that the Norwich loanee will stay in South Yorkshire for his rehabilitation.

'He is hugely disappointed,' Warne added.

'He was starting to get himself into the team and was a big threat for us at defending set-pieces and attacking them.

'Hopefully I will get him back before Christmas, I don't want to put dates on it, but they are saying eight to 10 weeks.

'He is staying here to have his treatment, so we will get everything we can into him.'

The Millers resume their Championship campaign after the international break as the Rams visit the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

Frank Lampard has enjoyed an impressive start to his managerial career, winning four of his first six league games, and Warne reckons delivering a top-six finish will be a good achievement for the former England international.

'They have collected a lot of points, they have some outstanding players,' Warne added.

'In recent years a criticism of Derby might be that they were an old team, I don't mean that rudely, an experienced team is good for a lot of things but maybe now they have got a bit of youth into them which makes them dangerous.

'If Frank keeps them in the top six he will have done a really good job.

"There will be no ifs and buts, we will be trying to win the game. 

"There's no doubt that if we are to have a successful season we have to pick up points at home."

Marek Rodak, Semi Ajayi and Ryan Manning have all returned trouble free from international duty and are primed to start the game.

But Joe Newell is a doubt with a troublesome hip injury as the Millers hope for a third home win of the campaign.