Are strikers Georgie Kelly and Tom Eaves ready for Rotherham United action this weekend against Blackpool?
STRIKER Georgie Kelly is pushing for a place in the squad as Rotherham United look to extend their unbeaten Championship run to four matches this Saturday.
After emerging undefeated from three successive games against top-three opposition, the 20th-placed Millers now take on the team one spot away from the foot of the table, Blackpool.
Kelly hasn’t played in 2023 after tearing a calf muscle just before Christmas but is back to full fitness and hoping to be in the matchday 18 against the Seasiders.
The 26-year-old, whose last action came on December 17 at West Bromwich Albion, has been training with the main group for a fortnight and was under consideration for the derby draw against Sheffield United.
“Georgie was available last Saturday,” manager Matt Taylor confirmed. “He just hadn’t done quite enough training at full tempo.
“He’s trained all this week and we’ll assess him going into this weekend.”
Fellow centre-forward Tom Eaves, sidelined since pulling his hamstring at Huddersfield Town on December 29, is close to a return but is unlikely to feature at Bloomfield Road.
He has been taking part in training and is anticipating the final sign-off from the physios today or tomorrow.
“We’ll just have to assess whether he’s done enough in terms of 11-v-11 football,” Taylor said. “Everyone can run around in a small-sided game in a tight area. The risk with muscles injuries is when you open out the players on to a bigger area.”
The boss is expecting a tough game against Blackpool who are fighting for their second-tier survival having not won in the league since a 2-1 triumph at Coventry City on October 29.
“We’re under no illusions about how difficult it’s going to be there,” he said. “It will be an uncomfortable game.
“We’ve got to add to what we’ve done in the last few games. We’ve been very much connected in terms of our approach and intent. We’re looking to add more quality to that.
“A strong starting point for us has been our competitive instinct and that’s certainly something we’re going to need in abundance this weekend.”
The Seasiders will be without striker Gary Madine, who received a straight red card against Huddersfield on Tuesday night. Defender Charlie Goode, on loan from Brentford, went off injured in that game and is a doubt for Saturday.
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ROTHERHAM United are growing in confidence that they will have shot-stopper Josh Vickers available for the remainder of their Championship campaign.
The first-team back-up goalkeeper (below) suffered shoulder damage in December that kept him out of the squad for a month and there were fears he would need an operation to remedy the problem.
However, after making a tentative return to training, he played from start to finish in a private friendly against Bradford City a week last Friday and was fit enough to be named in the matchday 18 for the Championship derby clash with Sheffield United five days ago.
“He’s okay and we hope it stays that way,” said manager Matt Taylor. “Hopefully he won’t require surgery.
“His shoulder is getting stronger and more comfortable in terms of the pain levels.
“He’s still not able to do everything so we’re not completely out of the words, but for him to get through 90 minutes is a good sign.”
As long as there are no setbacks, the 27-year-old will be in the squad for Saturday’s trip to Blackpool.
Vickers, who joined the club in November 2020 following his departure from Lincoln City, played 27 times during last term’s League One promotion push.
He has been unable to dislodge in-form Viktor Johansson in this campaign and his outings have been restricted to two August starts in the EFL Cup.
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ROTHERHAM United have an exceptional record against Blackpool.
Their last five encounters with the Seasiders have all ended in victory and their undefeated run against them stretches to 11 matches.
The last time the Millers lost to Saturday’s opponents is when they went down 4-1 at Bloomfield Road in the old Division Two in March 1997.
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One to watch
Winger Josh Bowler is back with Blackpool, on loan from Nottingham Forest. Forest signed him in the summer and then immediately loaned him out to Greek club Olympiacos. In his first spell with the Seasiders the 23-year-old scored eight goals in 45 appearances in the 2021/22 Championship campaign. He hit a last-minute equaliser in midweek against Huddersfield Town.
Form guide
Blackpool: DWLLLD
Millers: LLLWDD
Blackpool lost 3-0 at Middlesbrough on Saturday and then drew 2-2 with Huddersfield on Tuesday. They haven’t won in the Championship in their last 12 matches.
Last time out
Rotherham were well worth their 3-0 win at New York Stadium on September 14 in a match that would turn out to be Paul Warne’s final home match in charge before he left for Derby County. Chiedozie Ogbene put the Millers in front before the break and there were goals in the second half for Wes Harding and Georgie Kelly.
Recent meetings
Jan 1 2020, League One:
Millers 2 (Michael Smith, Dan Barlaser) Blackpool 1
Oct 12, 2019, League One:
Blackpool 1 Millers 2 (Smith, Clark Robertson)
May 5 2018, League One:
Millers 1 (Will Vaulks) Blackpool 0
Dec 9 2017, League One:
Blackpool 1 Millers 2 (David Ball 2)
Dec 28 2014, Championship:
Blackpool 1 Millers 1 (Emmanuel Ledesma)
Nov 29, 2014, Championship:
Millers 1 (Jordan Bowery) Blackpool 1
In 40 matches between the clubs since 1920 the Millers just shade things, with 21 wins compared to the Seasiders’ 19.
Rival boss
Former Barnsley and Manchester City centre-half Mick McCarthy has been in management for more than 30 years and has had spells in charge of Millwall, Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ipswich Town and Cardiff City. Now aged 63, he took the Republic of Ireland to the World Cup Finals in South Korea in 2002. Blackpool turned to him last month to lead their survival fight after sacking Michael Appleton.
Man in the middle
Josh Smith is in his early 30s and one of the youngest referees in the EFL. The Peterborough official was reffing in the National League in 2019 and made it to the Championship within 18 months. Saturday’s clash will be the first time he has taken charge of a Rotherham game. In 22 matches this season he has shown 102 yellow cards and three reds.
The odds
Rotherham are being offered at 13/5 to win away in the league for the third time this season while Blackpool are evens to see off the Millers’ challenge. The draw is 11/5.
Seasiders:
1-0: 11/2
2-0: 8/1
2-1: 15/2
3-0: 14/1
3-1: 13/1
3-2: 22/1
4-0: 40/1
4-1: 40/1
4-2: 70/1
Draw:
0-0: 15/2
1-1: 5/1
2-2: 13/1
3-3: 60/1
4-4: 200/1
Millers:
1-0: 9/1
2-0: 14/1
2-1: 11/1
3-0: 40/1
3-1: 25/1
3-2: 35/1
4-0: 90/1
4-1: 80/1
4-2: 100/1