The players Rotherham United DON'T have to worry about as Blackburn Rovers come calling

ROTHERHAM United's weekend opponents have lost a quartet of their top players since they last headed to AESSEAL New York Stadium.  

Blackburn Rovers will be looking to avenge last January's 4-0 loss in S60 when they play the second match of the Championship season this Saturday.

They will have to do so without star striker Ben Brereton Diaz, who has left for Spanish side Villareal; attacking midfielder Bradley Dack, now with Sunderland; goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski, taken to the Premier League by Luton Town; and centre-half Daniel Ayala, looking for a club after becoming a free agent.

Rovers have financial concerns and haven't spent on recruitment this summer at the same level they have done in previous years.

The main arrivals have been centre-forward Niall Ennis from Plymouth Argyle and two players from the continent.

Norwegian central midfielder Sondre Tronstad has come in from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem while Icelandic attacking midfield man Arnor Sigurdsson has joined on loan from Russian team CSKA Moscow

The latter is injured and won't be in Jon Dahl Tomasson's squad for the Rotherham clash.

Tronstad was in the side that beat West Bromwich Albion on opening day and Ennis was on the bench.

Blackburn were interested in taking Kian Breckin - the son of former Millers defender Ian - on loan from Manchester City but the 19-year-old midfielder chose League One Wycombe Wanderers instead.

The loss of Brereton Diaz is a major blow following his goal returns of 19 last term and 25 the season before.

ONE TO WATCH

Young striker Harry Leonard scored his first goal for Blackburn in their 2-1 opening-day home win over West Bromwich Albion. The 19-year-old came through the youth ranks at Ewood Park, having joined Rovers as a ten-year-old, and made four Championship appearances last season. He began training with the senior squad last January.

FORM GUIDE

Millers: LW

Rovers: WW

Blackburn entertained League Two Walsall in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday and won 4-3.

PAST MEETINGS

Jan 14, 2023, Championship:

Millers 4 Rovers 0  (Hakeem Odoffin, Ollie Rathbone, Shane Ferguson, Conor Washington)

Oct 8, 2022, Championship:

Rovers 3 Millers 0

May 1, 2021, Championship:

Millers 1 Rovers 1 (Lewis Wing)

Dec 16, 2020, Championship:

Rovers 2 Millers 1 (Michael Smith)

RIVAL BOSS

Jon Dahl Tomasson was an international striker in his playing days, winning more than 100 caps for Denmark and numbering Newcastle United, Feyenoord and AC Milan among his clubs. Now aged 46, he was manager of Swedish side Malmo before moving to Ewood Park in June 2022. He had Blackburn in play-off contention in his first season and they ended up finishing just a place outside the top six on goal difference.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Robert Madley, who has refereed in the Premier League as well as in the Championship, was last at New York Stadium in April when the Millers drew 2-2 with Burnley in the second tier. The 36-year-old West Yorkshire official has more than a decade of experience. A regular in the top flight until controversy over an offensive email in 2018 stalled his career, he took charge of Southampton’s 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday last week.

THE ODDS

The bookmakers are favouring the visitors over the home side, offering 19/10 on a Rotherham triumph and 13/10 on Blackburn taking all three points. The draw is 9/4.