Rotherham United's Brandon Cover on his selection battle with Ossama Ashley

They're rivals for a starting role, but that doesn't mean they're not pals.

The fight is a friendly one between Brandon Cover and Ossama Ashley for the third midfield spot in the early stages of Rotherham United's League Two campaign.

"It's a battle. Of course, it's a battle," said the former. "I'm rooting for him when he has the shirt and hopefully he's rooting for me when I've got the shirt. We've just got to keep going and keep pushing each other."

Fitness permitting, Kian Spence and Jamie Jellis are certain starters, then either one of their two teammates will join them in the centre of the park.

Cover came to AESSEAL New York Stadium at a bad time - signed in January's transfer window when Rotherham's League One year was already turning sour and the slide towards relegation had begun.

Signed on a free transfer from Leicester City, the 22-year-old Jamaica international was in and out of the team. He's learned in adversity and is now setting his sights high under new head coach Alex Bruce.

"Mentally, it has made me stronger and more resilient as a player," he said. "League One is a very good league, there's no getting away from that. I've just got to take all the lessons into this new season and hopefully kick on, hopefully get many more starts.

"The gaffer been fantastic for me. He's given me a new joy for football, he's been a breath of fresh air.

"Promotion is what we want. I know we shouldn't really talk about it too much, but, ultimately, we're here to try to be promoted. Being a main starter, getting more call-ups for Jamaica and winning promotion, they're my three main aims."

Cover spoke to the media last week for the first time since his arrival and proved to be very likeable and a good talker.

He knows full well what he and Ashley are up against if they are to climb above Spence and Jellis in the pecking order.

"They're two runners," he said. "They've got great legs on them. They can just run for days, they can run for England. I'm really happy playing with them. They give me great support on and off the pitch. They're good lads. I like to get around the pitch myself. You've got to do the 'doggy' side of the game."

The Colchester-born player has featured three times for Jamaica, for whom he qualifies through his father's heritage, seeing action against South Africa, India and Nigeria.

"I'm really proud to represent my country," he said. "On my dad's side, they're all Jamaican, so they're always tuning in and watching the matches. They're buzzing for me."

After a summer of 20-plus departures and a double-figure number of arrivals, Cover already something of an old boy in the Millers camp.

"A lot of boys left and now it's just about rebuilding Rotherham," he said. "It's a new squad, new faces, new feelings. Everybody's on board with the same mission. I think the gaffer's recruited very well. They're all top lads in the dressing room and on the pitch. We've gelled well."

As for that tussle with Ashley ...

"Ossama's very good player," he said. "Can we still be mates? Yeah, 100 per cent we can."