The player hit by sickness the day before turning out for Rotherham United

Rotherham United's Cameron Humphreys battles with Huddersfield Town's Kian Harratt at the John Smith's Stadium. Picture: Jim Brailsford

DEFENDER Cameron Humphreys was named in Rotherham United's team for this weekend's Yorkshire derby despite suffering from illness on the eve of the clash.

The 25-year-old took to the field against Huddersfield Town because injuries had left the Millers short on numbers in their centre-half department.

Grant Hall and Sean Morrison were unavailable because of hamstring and calf issues respectively while right-back Lee Peltier, who offers cover at the heart of the rearguard, remains sidelined by a troublesome calf.

"It wasn't ideal preparation," manager Matt Taylor said. "He wasn't at the training ground on Friday. We were weak in the aspect of who to play there and what we could get on the pitch."

Humphreys has been in fine form this season alongside Tyler Blackett but gave an under-par display as Rotherham slipped to a 2-0 defeat that left them a place above the Championship drop zone.

"It was a difficult game for Cam and Tyler," manager Matt Taylor said. "Huddersfield's front boys (Delano Burgzorg and Kian Harratt) worked them without being monsters physically. They just worked them on the ground and in the space in behind. They were really bright."

Hakeem Odoffin is another player who can fill in in central defence but he was needed in midfield in the absence of Cafu who has picked up a hamstring niggle.

Humphreys was far from the only player to experience a dip in form on a collective off day for Rotherham in West Yorkshire as they emerged from the international break.

"We can't use Cam's illness as an excuse for losing," Taylor said. "There weren't enough tackles or full-blooded moments where we put our bodies on the line. When we did, we came out second best."