'Less than 20' Covid cases, says Rotherham United boss Paul Warne

The Millers have been ravaged by a Covid outbreak this month and had to postpone three matches, but manager Paul Warne revealed today that the real figure was less than 20.

The discrepancy could simply be a case of the same player or staff member testing positive in an initial test and then again in a back-up test, leading to 25 positive results but not 25 separate infections.

"There haven't been more than 20 individual cases involving players and first-team staff," said Warne who was absent for Tuesday's Championship home loss to Watford and misses Saturday's Championship trip to Bristol City because he is in quarantine.

More than half of Rotherham's players and football staff contracted the virus but virtually everyone is now back at work at the reopened Roundwood training complex.

All players who were hit by the virus are available selection again as long as they feel physically fit to play.

"I'm the only one still self-isolating," Warne said. "Everyone else is through it."

Captain Richard Wood was limping in the final stages of the Watford game but that was through fatigue rather than injury and he is expected to be in the squad for the Robins clash.

Midfielder Lewis Wing and left-back Trevor Clarke missed the Hornets game but are now training again.

The Miller are monitoring Ben Wiles, who has a tight hamstring, and Warne says he will take no risks with the young midfielder's fitness ahead of the imminent international break.