Chance for new boys as boss Paul Warne says there'll be changes for Rotherham United Carabao Cup clash

PAUL Warne plans to shake up his starting 11 for Rotherham United's Carabao Cup first-round home tie with Accrington Stanley tonight.
Ollie Rathbone could made his full Millers debut after coming on as a substitute against PlymouthOllie Rathbone could made his full Millers debut after coming on as a substitute against Plymouth
Ollie Rathbone could made his full Millers debut after coming on as a substitute against Plymouth

The four senior summer signings could make their first competitive starts for the Millers who opened their League One campaign with  2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

Boss Warne wants to give centre-half Rarmani Edmonds-Green, midfielders Ollie Rathbone and Hakeem Odoffin and winger Shane Ferguson the opportunity to impress before the weekend's league trip to Wigan Athletic.

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Other players like Kieran Sadlier are also expected to receive the manager's call.

"I'm going to make as many changes as I possibly can," said Warne after goals from Freddie Ladapo and Ben Wiles had sealed victory over Argyle.

"I've asked all the players to compete for a shirt. If they can't get on the pitch, how can they compete? I'll give loads of opportunities to different players. That's no disrespect to Accrington.

"Accrington are in our league. It's a good test for everybody. It allows me to have a look and possibly think: 'Maybe I'll tweak it for the next league game.' We need to get more minutes into the players. Until they've played six, seven, eight games, they're all a little bit rusty.

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"Shane was unlucky not to start against Plymouth, as was Sads. Haks, Reg (Edmonds-Green) and Ollie have been in the building for only two days or so. I intend they will play a massive part on Tuesday and it's their job to get in this team."

Warne expects Stanley to field a strong team as they look to respond to an opening-day 2-1 league defeat at Wycombe Wanderers.

"They have played a 3-5-2 and up front they have two really honest lads (Colby Bishop and Dion Charles) up who were rumoured to get moves in the summer. They're good hard-working strikers who will cause all sorts of problems.

"They like a switch of play and they're big and strong at the back, so they're a good threat from set-pieces.

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"Accrington are a good footballing side and they make the pitch really big when they have the ball. They make it difficult to get the ball off them and they're really competitive.

"As a manager, I've never had an easy game against them; anything but.

"We have to try to stop them playing out from the back try and to stop their enthusiasm up front."

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