No Rotherham United deal for striker Ranger

The former Newcastle United and Blackpool forward has been training with the Millers over the past few weeks in the hope of earning a deal.

But Warnock admitted that the 24-year-old wasn’t fit enough for the rigours of a Championship relegation battle.

He said: “We’re not going to take him on.

“It’s nothing to do with reputation, I said to him we haven’t got the time because he is a week or two away from Championship level fitness wise.

“What I have said to him is that if I’m still at the club, or wherever I am in the summer, he’s quite welcome to come and do a pre-season with me.

Ranger has struggled to find a club since failing to turn up for Blackpool’s pre-season training at the start of this season.

He left the League One side in February this year.

But Warnock said he hasn’t had an issue with Ranger’s application while with the Millers.

He added: “His attitude’s been good for me, another one who really shouldn’t be where he is at the moment with his ability.

“One or two clubs lower down than the Championship have asked about him so whether he goes somewhere until the end of the season I don’t know.”

Heading into the game against Ipswich tomorrow, Warnock is hopeful that a few more members of his squad will be available for selection.

The rejuvenated Greg Halford returns from suspension while defender Richard Wood  – who missed the thrilling 3-3 draw against Derby with a hamstring problem – is back in training.

Warnock said: “Richard Wood is training again, whether we risk him with two weeks off after this game, I don’t know.

“Lloyd Doyley has had a full week training so he is in competition as well, with Danny Collins.

“Jerome Thomas will be missing, he’ll be out for a couple of weeks but if you’re going to get an injury like that the best time is the week before the international break, because he should be available when we come back from the international break, as should Frazer Richardson.

“We’d like to think if we can get away without any injuries at Ipswich we can start that seven game make-or-break period with a full squad, which would be great.”