Rotherham United waiting game over international break

Rotherham United are hoping to get through today with no contact from England's youth set-up as they make plans to play through the international break.

The Millers have been shorn of two players by call-ups and could request a postponement of their next two matches if a third is summoned by his country.

There is still a chance that young loan midfielder Jayce Fitzgerald could be taken from them, which would leave them with a decision to make on whether to call off next Saturday's League Two home clash with Crewe Alexandra and the following weekend's long journey to Exeter City.

"Jayce is the one who could make it the third call-up," said boss Alex Bruce after yesterday's 1-0 win at Northampton Town. "He's on standby. If we hear anything about him over the next 24 hours, that might change things. But, as it stands, the games will be going ahead."

The 19-year-old Manchester United loanee has represented England at under-16 and U-17 level in the past and still qualifies for the U-19s.

Even if they are without a trio of their men, Rotherham are likely to press ahead with their campaign as they seek to build on the momentum of a draw and victory in their last two outings that have lifted them to 14th spot.

Young goalkeeper Julian Eyestone - who made a crucial stoppage-time save against Northampton - has been on standby for the American senior side, but the Millers aren't expecting him to suddenly have to fly to the United States.

The deadline for Rotherham to postpone the Crewe contest is tomorrow and that outcome would see the Exeter game called off as well.

They will definitely be without midfielder Brandon Cover and centre-half Kieran Ngwenya who are on duty with Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago respectively.

The improving Millers triumphed at Sixfields Stadium without being at their best. They were below par in the first half but stepping up the pace after the interval and taking the lead through Paul Mullin's 72nd-minute penalty in front of 716 travelling fans.

"The pleasing thing is, we've got three points," said Bruce. "Have we played better in certain games? Yeah, we have. I've seen us play better against Salford City (3-3 draw) and Chesterfield 2-1 triumph), even at Cheltenham Town (2-1 loss) where we didn't get anything.

"A thing that really pleased me today was the way we defended the box and kept a clean sheet."