Chance for kids as Rotherham United seek Vertu Trophy knock-on effect
MANAGER Matt Hamshaw heads into tonight's Vertu Trophy Round of 16 clash hoping for a good result that will lead to an upturn in Rotherham United's League One fortunes.
Three months ago, a winning burst in the tournament got the Millers going in third-tier combat and they climbed towards the play-off reckoning as they went nine matches without defeat.
Now, after a sequence of six consecutive losses, they find themselves in the drop zone and Hamshaw believes a positive knockout outcome at Huddersfield Town this evening could revive them again.
“It's a competition that got us on a good run in the league and I'd love a repeat of that,” he said.
As he has done in the past, the boss will turn to youth and leave out as many senior men as he can to save them for forthcoming battles in the league.
That means there's likely to be places in the squad for 20-year-old Josh Ayres and teenagers James Clarke and Dean Gardner who were all scorers in the 7-2 romp in the Round of 32 at Salford City in early December.
“It's a competition where you can put in a few youngsters - and the youngsters who we've put in have generally done well,” Hamshaw said.
“I can't risk too many players for obvious reasons. I'd like to play them but, with where we are in the table, the league has to take priority.”
The tie pits Rotherham, who still have a long injury list, against the club that beat them 3-1 in the third tier at AESSEAL New York Stadium on December 20.
Top scorer Sam Nombe is fit again after a hamstring issue but may be held back for Saturday's league trip to Stockport County.