Matt Hamshaw's verdict on Ted Cann as the goalkeeper keeps Cameron Dawson out of the Rotherham United side
TED Cann is set to be handed a fourth straight league start for Rotherham United when the Millers head to West Yorkshire for a derby-day clash this weekend.
The summer signing, who had to wait seven months for his League One bow for his new club, has made the most of his chance after replacing Cameron Dawson in the net.
He has conceded only goal since being called up for a first-ever EFL start at Bradford City on February 24 and recorded shut-outs in his most recent outings, against Plymouth Argyle and Mansfield Town.
The former West Bromwich Albion man is expected to be in the line-up when 22nd-placed Rotherham seek more survival points at play-off-chasing Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
“All in all, he's done really well to say he's only just made his league debut,” manager Matt Hamshaw said. “Back-to-back clean sheets is something to build on.”
Cann is in his mid 20s but arrived at AESSEAL having never made a league appearance before. All his senior experience had come in non-league spells while he was West Brom's books.
He has benefited from having a relatively settled backline in front of him and in the 0-0 draw with Mansfield yesterday he made the stop of the night to push a fierce long-range effort from Jon Russell to safety.
His all-round play hasn't been perfect but he's doing enough to keep Dawson – who was dropped after a costly error against Doncaster Rovers – on the bench.
“I thought he made a top-quality save in the first half,” said Hamshaw after the Town clash. “He flew out a couple of times and my heart was in my mouth.
“The beauty of these three games has been the fact that we've been able to put the same kind of defenders out there. That might change this weekend. We'll have to see.”
The boss was referring to the ankle injury Zak Jules suffered against Mansfield that has made the centre-half a major doubt for the trip to the Accu Stadium.
The Millers have picked up four points from their last two games but have scored only twice in six matches.
“We've got to be a bit more of a threat in the attacking third,” Hamshaw said.
The stalemate with Mansfield followed a 1-0 triumph four days earlier over Plymouth Argyle which had ended a run of four straight losses
When asked if he would have settled beforehand for a win and a draw and two clean sheets, the manager said: “With the run that we were on, definitely. But people know I want to win games, so I'm tinged with disappointment that it's not six points.”