For-Ward thrust for Millers

Tom Bradshaw, Lee Gregory and Adam Armstrong – among  a string of others – were tipped as possible targets for manager Alan Stubbs.

But the Millers already have a front man on their book who is aiming to prove a point and Danny Ward says he’s ready to step on the throttle, starting tomorrow by proving a big point when he lines up against Barnsley’s Tom Bradshaw. Bradshaw was the subject of a big-money bid from Rotherham before the Reds jumped in and took him to Oakwell for £650,000.

Said Ward after the Millers’ first win of the season against Brentford, when he netted the only goal of the game with a quality 32nd minute finish: “I’m happy, I’ve had a few chances in the last few games where I should have done better, but I just need to keep working on it and it will come. 

“As long as I start putting chances away I’ll be delighted. I like to set myself targets and over the last couple of seasons I’ve not done as well as I would have liked to, so if things keep going as they are and I keep scoring I’ll be really pleased.”

Although forwards are judged on their goal returns, Ward is often rated highly by fellow players and successive managers for different reasons. His never-say-die attitude, back-breaking work rate and thirst to do well for the team have never been in question.

A 92nd minute defensive header in his own penalty area last weekend typified all of the above characteristics, as did his chasing into the corner flag to close a Brentford defender down in the dying seconds.

And it’s a part of his game that Ward puts a lot of emphasis on.

He said: “Obviously defending starts from the front, so if I can get a bit of pressure on the defenders then it makes them have less time to think where to put the ball, giving the back line and midfield time to position themselves in order to win the first and second balls.

“I’ve always fancied myself in the air against people and I enjoy it in the defensive third. 

“It was good for me to get the goal, but I thought the team performance was solid and really good.”

Ward firmly believes that his early season form is – in some part – down to the work of the medical team at Rotherham, as well as the work of fitness coach Paul Warne.

Ward added: “In pre-season Warney has been brilliant, he has been since I came in. 

“He’s kept on top of me which is good and made sure I’m doing things right. At home he’s made sure I’m eating right, which I have always done, but Warney has been on my case and helped me cut out those niggly injuries.”

Ironically, it’s not all been sweetness and light for marquee signing Bradshaw following his switch to Oakwell from Walsall.

Barnsley-watchers haven’t exactly been frothing with excitement in his appearances to date, having failed to score in his four games to date while he was subbed at half-time in the Reds’ 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield on Saturday.

HEAD TO HEAD

DANNY WARD

Age:  24         

Championship appearances: 104 (4 this season)

Championship mins: 6,037 (360 this season)

Championship goals: 19 (2 this season)

Championship assists: 16 (0 this season)

Price: undiclosed, thought to be around £400,000

TOM BRADSHAW          

Age: 24

Championship appearances: 4

Championship mins: 255

Championship goals: 0

Championship assists: 0

Price: undisclosed, thought to be around £650,000

Stats provided by whoscored.com