Paul Warne's Jerry Yates warning as Rotherham United prepare for Blackpool test
MANAGER Paul Warne has highlighted the threat of old boy Jerry Yates as Rotherham United look to extend their unbeaten home start to their Championship campaign tonight.
Blackpool are next up at AESSEAL New York Stadium and include in their ranks the striker the Millers sold to the Seasiders two years ago.
Having progressed through the youth ranks, Yates had become a bit-part player with Rotherham but has since gone on to forge a successful career at Bloomfield Road.
"We had a team meeting on Monday and showed the lads how hard Jerry works and what a good player he is," Warne said.
"He's a great kid who has done really well, as I always knew he would.
"I'm looking forward to seeing him before and after the game but I won't enjoy watching him causing my backline any problems!"
Yates scored only five times in 52 Millers appearances but he repaid the faith of Blackpool, who took a £200,000 gamble on him, by firing in 23 goals in a debut season that culminated in promotion from League One.
The 25-year-old was on target eight times in the second tier last term as Pool finished 16th and has scored twice in eight outings so far in this campaign.
Neil Critchley, the manager who guided this evening's visitors to the Championship and kept them there, departed for the number-two role at Premier League Aston Villa in the summer and former Lincoln City boss Michael Appleton is now in the hot-seat
"I really like Michael and his teams always give us really tough games," Warne said.
"I think they established themselves really well last season and had a much better year than, respectfully, a lot of people thought they might."
Centre-halves Cameron Humphreys and Grant Hall are available for Rotherham after recovering from hamstring injuries.
Centre-forward Jake Beesley - a target of the Millers when he was a Rochdale player - and midfielder Kevin Stewart miss out for Blackpool with long-term foot issues.
Another frontman, Gary Madine, will also be absent as he serves a three-match suspension for violent conduct after being found guilty by an FA-appointed independent panel of stamping on Blackburn Rovers' Lewis Travis on August 31.
The incident was missed by match officials and the player was later banned on video evidence.