Stubbs welcomes back wealth of Championship experience

Millers manager Alan Stubbs believes the answer lies in the perfect blend.

However, in the opening part of this young season, the man charged with progressing Rotherham United on and off the pitch hasn’t had a full and healthy squad to select from.

Some senior members of the squad have been missing and with it the Millers have also been reduced in terms of players who demonstrate leadership qualities along with second tier experience among a relatively young squad.

TOM ADEYEMI

Lee Frecklington (calf), Kirk Broadfoot (back), Tom Adeyemi (thigh) and Dexter Blackstock (fitness) have all been missing for one reason or another, but with their absence Rotherham have lost more than just players on the pitch.

Those four players have wracked up an impressive 664 second tier appearances between them and all play a big part for the Millers, both in the first team and around the club.

Add to that the positions they play - a centre back, two central midfielders and a striker – and you have a spine to the team that has been around the block several times and seen a few tricks on the way.

That could be the missing ingredient that the Millers require when they host Nottingham Forest tomorrow evening, with Frecklington, Adeyemi and Blackstock in line for some game time.

Stubbs told the Advertiser: “I don’t think anyone can afford to miss four players of their experience.

“We’ve had to do without that for large chunks of the start of this season.”

ALAN STUBBS GIVES OUT INSTRUCTIONS

Club captain Frecklington hasn’t turned out for the first team since the opening day, while new signing Adeyemi managed just 45 minutes of his debut against Brentford before having to be withdrawn due to injury.

Broadfoot has also been absent since the opening fixture while new forward Blackstock is still working on his match sharpness after signing on a free transfer just a couple of weeks ago.

In Frecklington and Broadfoot, they are missing two ultimate professionals and leaders of men, something they have been lacking in recent weeks.

“We all know Broadfoot is a leader and we have missed that leadership and experience on the pitch,” said Stubbs.

“Frecklington is the club captain and he is a driving force, he has good energy to get around the pitch and disrupt things and we have missed that too.

“Adeyemi is a very good player in this division. He’s got what you would want in a typical midfield player. 

“When they come back into the squad we will be much stronger.”

Meanwhile, Stubbs has not ruled out all three players who were withdrawn in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Bristol City playing some part tomorrow.

Izzy Brown (cramp) and Jon Taylor (knee) are looking likely to be involved, while Joe Newell will be assessed closer to the game.

JOE NEWELL IN ACTION AGAINST BRISTOL CITY

Stubbs added: “With Newell, we will probably wait until closer to kick off to make a decision.

“It’s a bit of a strange situation because Joe went for the challenge and got three whacks.

“He had one to the face when the ball ricocheted off him, then was trodden on and fractured his hand and he has also had his toe stood on and that’s bruised, so it was a bit of a strange one.”