Fitness update on Dominic Iorfa after maiden Rotherham United game took a physical toll

The soreness has eased for Dominic Iorfa following his first match action in more than four months and the new boy is set to make his Rotherham United home debut this weekend.

The experienced centre-half was described by boss Alex Bruce as being "riddled with aches and cramp" as a consequence of his hour-long outing during the 1-0 triumph at Northampton Town last Saturday

The former Sheffield Wednesday man had signed for the Millers as a free agent only four days earlier after a short spell training with the club.

"His last game had been in early May," Bruce said. "So to train for two weeks and then get chucked straight into a competitive match was tough for him. We've had to try to manage him this week.

"For him to give us 60 minutes last week was great. You could see the influence he had on the team, and he'll only get better."

Iorfa was given an easy 48 hours at the beginning of the week and has recovered sufficiently to be in contention for Saturday's League Two clash with Crewe Alexandra at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

Speaking yesterday afternoon, Bruce said: "He wasn't involved on Monday or Tuesday. He was working with the fitness lads and the medical side of things just to keep him ticking over.

"He's trained this morning and he'll train again tomorrow. We'll see how he is for Saturday. He should be all right."

Rotherham, have lost only once in their last six matches and look capable of climbing higher than their present 14th spot. Crewe, unbeaten in league combat this term, arrive in ninth place, with two early wins and then five successive draws to their name.

"They have drawn a lot of games," Bruce said. "They've not lost any, which tells its own story really. They've been in every match. I'm expecting a tight game, I'm expecting a good game. It's one I'm looking forward to. I feel like we're in a good place."

"We've had an okay start. I'll never say 'We've been great', because it's just been okay for me. Is there a lot of improvement to be made? Yes. But I'm pleased with the players in terms of how they're taking in what we are working towards and where we're getting to."

The match is the first of two scheduled matches for the Millers during the international break and the October 3 trip to Exeter City is expected to be on.

Rotherham are one short of the three call-ups required to request a postponement and the deadline for that is imminent. It would need the unlikely event of either of their two players on standby - Jayce Fitzgerald (England youth) and Julian Eyestone (America) - being summoned by their countries for the Grecians fixture to be in jeopardy.

"I'm expecting it to go ahead," said Bruce.

Meanwhile, in the wake of his team's 5-4 success on penalties in a Jersey Mike's Trophy tie at York City in midweek, the 41-year-old head coach reflected on his own spot-kick record during his playing career as a centre-back.

He took one for Oldham Athletic in January 2005 in the LDV Vans Trophy and one for Ipswich Town in August 2006 in the Carling Cup, both of which were in shoot-outs.

"I wasn't a very good penalty-taker," he conceded. "The one for Oldham was against Tranmere when I was a kid on my first loan. I went to put it in the bottom left and it went top right, so work that one out! It went in, thankfully.

"I took one for Ipswich in one of my first games for them. Jim Magilton was the manager, and it was Peterborough away. I hit the post."

Oldham won their shoot-out 5-4 while Ipswich lost theirs 4-2.