Key day coming up in Rotherham United centre-half bid and one final step before Trevor Clarke is a Millers man

ROTHERHAM United should tomorrow learn the outcome of their quest to land a new centre-half as they prepare to announce the signing of full-back Trevor Clarke.

The Millers, having lost out on Blackpool's Curtis Tilt and failed so far to persuade Leyton Orient to sell Marvin Ekpiteta, submitted a bid for a fresh central-defender target on Thursday.

Manager Paul Warne after Saturday's 2-2 draw with Leicester City in the final match of pre-season: "The club are considering our offer. Hopefully on Monday I'll get a guide on that - whether it's something they want to take or tweak in some way. I'm ever hopeful."

Left-back Clarke worked out with Rotherham's players during the warm-up for the Foxes clash but the 21-year-old was unable to feature in the game as the Millers were waiting for the final box to be ticked.

"I've got a left-back in the building, Tricky Trev," Warne said. "We just need international clearance on him. It's unfortunate he couldn't play against Leicester. I wanted him to play."

Clarke flew over from Ireland last week and trained with his prospective new teammates on Friday.

Trevor Clarke

Warne wants to add a centre-half and a forward to his League One squad before concluding his summer recruitment.

"We're always looking for another attacking option," he said. "I like running a small squad when all the players are fit but we're going to have injuries and suspensions."

The transfer window remains open until September so the manager doesn't have to have deals in the bag before Saturday's opening-day trip to AFC Wimbledon.

"If we have to start the season with three senior centre-halves and Jake Cooper (youth-team graduate) then that's what we have to do. Jake's done really well in pre-season."