Rotherham United are set to welcome a number of first-team players back to the squad ahead of their next outing against Lincoln City next Tuesday.
The Millers have won just one of their last six League One fixtures as they struggle to adapt to life in the third tier. Their poor form leaves them 19th in the table, just two points above the relegation places.
Steve Evans was forced to take his team to fellow strugglers Crawley Town last week with depleted numbers after illness broke out within the squad. It ultimately proved costly, with the West Sussex-based side picking up an important three points with a 1-0 win.
The result doesn’t tell half the tale though, with Rotherham having been without the likes of Ben Hatton, Liam Kelly, Sam Nombe, and Joe Rafferty, while Reece James was an unused substitute and Jordan Hugill managed just under 20 minutes.
Players Set To Return
Evans has revealed just how much his squad was affected for the trip to Crawley, telling the Rotherham Advertiser:
“The Kellys and the Nombes, they’ve lost around four kilos in weight. Tongue in cheek; if we’re having banter, I could be doing with a bit of that! In reality, I don’t want it because I’ve seen how sick the boys were.
“Liam is a man who I have huge respect for. He wanted to get in his car and come down, and so did Sam, but they were badly ill. Jordan could hardly talk.”
The report confirms that all players are set to return for the clash with Lincoln City on Tuesday night and could be joined by defender Jamie McCart, who has been out of action since October.
“He will be back in the main group if he ticks his last boxes, and 100 percent that would put him in contention for the Lincoln game.”
Rotherham’s early FA Cup exit at the hands of Cheltenham Town means they have a free weekend.
Our View
This is a huge boost for Rotherham and Steve Evans, who will view the Lincoln City game as a chance to get their season back on track. The Imps are also in poor form, having failed to win in each of their last four league outings, losing their last two. This has seen Michael Skubala’s team lose ground in the promotion race, slipping out of the play-off places to ninth. A healthy Rotherham squad will fancy their chances of picking up their fifth win of the season.
