Good news over Rotherham United defender Clark Robertson

ROTHERHAM United expect to have centre-half Clark Robertson back in the first-team frame for Saturday's Championship clash against Reading.
Clark RobertsonClark Robertson
Clark Robertson

The centre-half, having recovered from a groin problem, went down with illness on the eve of last Saturday's derby at Sheffield Wednesday and missed the 2-2 Hillsborough draw.

Manager Paul Warne is confident the summer signing from Blackpool will be ready for the Royals showdown at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

"I'm sure he'll be okay by then," the boss said. "It wasn't an injury that saw him miss the Owls match, it was an illness.

"He was fit to play but became ill, which was a massive blow for me. He was massively disappointed."

Robertson, who has been in fine form for the Millers, was sent home from training last Friday. A day earlier, right-back Billy Jones had been ruled out of the Wednesday contest because he was unwell.

Reserve goalkeeper Lewis Price pulled out of the Owls match on the morning of the game after suffering sickness.

"Pricey went down during the pre-match," Warne revealed. "It wasn't down to the cooking, he was already ill. Or at least I hope it wasn't the cooking because I ate the same food!

"Billy Jones was ill on Thursday. He had sickness and diarrhoea.

"I was panicking on Saturday morning when I turned my phone on fearing that other players may have contracted the same thing.

"We got over the line at Hillsborough with a little bit of illness in the camp. There was some coughing and spluttering but the lads put that to the side, gave it their all and more than deserved their point."

Twentieth-placed Rotherham, after seven draws in their last nine matches, are three points ahead of Reading who occupy the third and final relegation spot.