Derbyshire still in Redfearn's plans

STRIKER Matt Derbyshire still has a part to play at Rotherham United, says boss Neil Redfearn.

Once the leading man in the Millers' attack, Derbyshire has found himself on the periphery of the first team in recent weeks.

In fact, the 29-year-old hasn’t started in the last ten games and has come off the bench on just five occasions during that time.

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But Redfearn knows all about the former Nottingham Forest man’s Championship pedigree, including finishing as top scorer last season with ten goals.

He believes Derbyshire has become a victim of circumstance and the current preference of playing one up front –usually Danny Ward – doesn’t suit the former Premier League shooter.

But Derbyshire is still a big part of Redfearn’s plans and the manager hasn’t ruled out a starting berth for the front man in the coming weeks.

Speaking ahead of tonight's match against Brighton at the AESSEAL New York Stadium, the Millers boss said: “I think to be fair to Matt we have had some results and performances playing one up front, which by and large has been Danny Ward.

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“I think Matt has perhaps been unlucky in the fact that maybe one up front doesn’t suit him, he’s not a target man as such.

“I think he is a player who plays in a two or plays just off a big man or on the shoulder, so Matt has been a little bit unlucky that we’ve gone this way to try and get results.

“But Matt is another one who has shown a great attitude, every time we bring him on he tries to give you something, so there’s not a problem there.

“I think it’s just a set of circumstances where he has found himself out (of the team).”