Here's what Paul Warne has to say about the possibility of recalling Rotherham United striker Jerry Yates from his loan at Swindon Town

MANAGER Paul Warne plans to hold talks with Jerry Yates in the next few days as he ponders whether to recall the Rotherham United striker from his successful loan spell.
Jerry YatesJerry Yates
Jerry Yates

Yates has scored ten goals in 22 League Two outings for table-topping Swindon Town and is believed to favour remaining at the County Ground for the rest of the season.

But Warne may bring the 23-year-old back to AESSEAL New York Stadium in this month’s transfer window if he feels it would aid the Millers’ League One promotion push.

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“I haven’t spoken to him personally. That is something I’m going to have to do,” the boss said. “I know what he wants to do really. Hammy (coach Matt Hamshaw) is in conversation with him all the time.

“We normally reach out to him every week. I have to manage his expectations as much as I do the club’s. By the middle of next week I reckon I will be in a position to tell you more.”

Yates was a highly-rated prospect in Rotherham’s youth system but never quite established himself in the senior side, scoring twice in 17 Championship and League One starts and 29 substitute appearances.

He will be a wanted man in the window after his exploits with the Robins. His Millers contract is due to expire in the summer but the Advertiser understands the club have an option to extend it by a further year.

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There is a possibility that Rotherham could recall him so they can watch him close up in training before allowing him to return to Swindon or selling him or keeping him in their own squad.

“I don’t want to kill the kid but I have to do what’s best for this club,” said Warne whose side are at home to Championship Hull City in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

“If I was to lose strikers in the window and I wasn’t able to get any in, bringing him back would be an option.

“If I was looking to recruit, say, two strikers ... if they hadn’t scored and performed at the level Jerry has this season, I’d be stupid to sign them and not to bring Jerry back.

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“I have to make the best decision for the football club and that might not necessarily be what Jerry wants.”

Warne, whose side moved up to second spot by beating Blackpool 2-1 at New York on New Year’s Day,  is in the market for an attacker, a wide man and, possibly, a defender but isn’t predicting any early January arrivals.

He anticipates other clubs will make bids for some members of his squad.

“I am not getting too excited about this window,” the manager said. “I don’t think too much will happen. We might lose a couple so they will need replacing.

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“Billy Jones is out for a bit and Clark Robertson is out for a bit, so maybe we need some (defensive) cover. We are investigating that.

“I’m not a person for a massive change in January. If you do a massive change in January you must have got something significantly wrong in the summer.

“I would like to think we would get a couple in but it depends on a chain. I don’t foresee any incomings in the next couple of weeks.”