Rotherham United hope for signing number eight this week

Paul Warne has brought in seven new faces so far this summer and would like arrival number eight to come through the door in the next few days.

"I am hopeful of getting an incoming this week," the manager said after Saturday's 1-1 draw at Birmingham City had left his side 14th in the table after three matches.

"If it comes off, great. If it doesn't, we move on to the next target. I just think we are one or two away.

"If you told me we had to start with that 18 (at Birmingham) every week if they were definitely fit, that would be fine. But when two games a week come, it is going to be a long season so we need strength in depth."

The Millers are in the market for a midfielder - and have made no secret of their desire to bring back last season's loan star, Dan Barlaser, from Newcastle United -  a right winger and a left-back.

Warne refused to say what position the potential new boy plays.

When the Advertiser asked him if it was a midfielder, he joked: "It could be a midfielder or a wide man. It could be a midfielder who plays wide."

The boss, who has to submit a 25-man squad to the EFL after the close of the domestic transfer window on October 16, expects some of his players to leave AESSEAL New York but believes any exits will come nearer to the window's end.

"Outgoings not really, not yet," he said. "I am going to have to put my 25-man squad in soon and I have a limit. Players aren't stupid. After a few weeks of seeing they are not in the team or squad, they feel like their future is elsewhere. That is probably the case for a couple here."

Defender Adam Thompson and striker Jamie Proctor have yet to make the matchday 18 and may be on the move

Meanwhile, left-back Joe Mattock missed the trip to Birmingham through injury but is expected to be fit to face the Terriers.

"He pulled his quad on Thursday, but not in the heart of the muscle," Warne said.

The Millers started at St Andrew's with new loan striker George Hirst up front and had forwards Michael Smith, Freddie Ladapo and Kyle Vassell on the bench.

Vassell has yet to start a game this season.

"I explained to Smudge (Smith) and I told Freddie," Warne said. "If I take a player out of the team, I look them in the eye in my office and tell them why, so I don't expect a knock on my door. They are always welcome to and I will tell them the answers to any questions."