Millers manager is cool on free agent options

Injuries to centre-halves Sean Raggett and Clark Robertson have left the squad thin on numbers in central defence and manager Paul Warne might have been tempted to bring in cover.

But both Raggett and Robertson are expected back before Christmas and Warne hasn’t been enthused by the names put to him.

He told the Advertiser: “Free agents are an option for us at this time of year but, realistically, if we sign someone in the free market it is unlikely they would be fully fit and it might take a couple of weeks to get them match ready. By then we would possibly only be a couple of weeks away from getting one of our centre-halves back.

“At the moment no-one has been put in front of me who I think is suitable, although if something happens to another of my centre-backs then the decision will be speeded up.

“I still keep an eye on who is out there but there aren't a lot of great options at the moment.”

The Millers, 18th in the Championship, go to Nottingham Forest tomorrow chasing a first away win in the division in 30 attempts.

The barren run has led to calls for a more attacking approach away from home, employing two strikers, but Warne remains wary of being too open given the calibre of players in the second tier.

He added: “There is a lot to be said for throwing the kitchen sink at the opposition. You create chances, which is good, but you don’t half leave yourself open.

“We have to do what is right for the team and what we think will get us points. If you don’t match up Nottingham Forest in the middle of the park, for instance, then you are not going to see the ball.

“I think our away performances so far have merited at least a couple more points but we’ve not had the luck we’ve had at home. We need to take our chances when they come along.”

Catch today's Advertiser 28-page sports pull-out for much more from the Rotherham United camp.