Ronnie bids to plug the gaps

THE injury-hit Millers have made an eve-of-season swoop for experienced defender Dean Holden and put an offer to out-of-contract striker Jon Macken.

Grappling with injuries to several senior players, particularly in defence, manager Moore will go into tomorrow's League Two opener against Lincoln City with a patched-up side.

Holden (30) has joined on an emergency loan from Shrewsbury Town and will start at right-back this weekend in the absence of summer arrival Johnny Mullins (back) and Dale Tonge, who has suffered another metatarsal fracture.

With Ryan Taylor and Tom Pope also crocked, Moore has turned his attention to Macken as an experienced partner for leading scorer Adam Le Fondre.

The 33-year-old former Preston, Crystal Palace and Derby man is a free agent having left Barnsley this summer.

Said Moore: "He was going to Hartlepool but the deal fell through so now we have put on offer in.

"Macken has a goal ratio of one in four and at this level he will get goals but Bradford are also in for him."