Freddie Ladapo heads the list as three Rotherham United centre-forwards suffer injuries

ROTHERHAM United have been beset by striker worries as they prepare for tomorrow night's EFL Trophy semi-final showdown when a date at Wembley will be at stake.
Freddie LadapoFreddie Ladapo
Freddie Ladapo

The Millers will be without 15-goal record signing Freddie Ladapo for their trip to Hartlepool United after the 29-year-old was today ruled out for several weeks with a quad injury.

His potential replacements, Josh Kayode and Georgie Kelly, have picked up knee and calf knocks respectively and there is no guarantee they will make the squad.

The loss of Ladapo is a big blow for table-topping Rotherham as he will have to sit out a large portion of their League One promotion run-in

""He's got a pretty severe tear in the top of his quad," manager Paul Warne . "We will be missing him for a long period. It will be greater than a month.

The winners of tomorrow night's tie will secure a place in the final at Wembley where they will face either Wigan Athletic or Sutton United who play their last-four match this evening.

"There are a few problems we need to have a look at," Warne said. "Josh has had a swollen knee and Georgie has got a bit of a problem with his calf.

"Hopefully that won't affect our matchday squad tomorrow but it might. We have to prepare as if they're not available."

With Will Grigg already out for the season, the Millers have only one fit centre-forward, Michael Smith.

Better news is that centre-half Rarmani Edmonds-Green and wing-back Mickel Miller are ready to play again after hamstring pulls while midfielder Jamie Lindsay has had an injection in his damaged shoulder and should be available at Victoria Park.

"REG and Mickel will both be in the squad for sure," said Warne. "REG is a bit further on than Mickel but I've been told by my trusted physios that both will be ready to start if selected."

The semi-final pits the Millers against a mid-table League Two outfit bidding to reach Wembley for the first time in their history.

Rotherham, who have sold out their ticket allocation, will make changes to their league starting 11 to rest players for Saturday's visit to Wycombe Wanderer but will still field a strong side.

"We've been really respectful of the tournament," Warne said. "We've gone out and been aggressive in every game. We want to go through to the final."