Yorkshire derby incentive for Millers' cup side

ROTHERHAM United are set to ring the changes for tonight's Carabao Cup tie against Wigan Athletic at the AESSEAL New York Stadium — with a potential place in Saturday's derby at Leeds the carrot for whoever does well.

The tie gives manager Paul Warne an opportunity to rest players and take a look at others who haven't featured much so far.

Summer arrivals Sean Raggett, Billy Jones and Clark Robertson are expected to figure, as will Jamie Proctor in his first major comeback game from a serious knee injury which has kept him out for nearly a year.

And, says Warne, it is a chance for the men on duty to stake a claim to be involved at Elland Road.

"This match allows me to look at other players and look at something different," said Warne, fresh from last weekend's first Championship win of the season against Ipswich.

"It gives people an opportunity to say 'look at me, I want to be in the first team,' and it offers a few of the lads who put an immense amount of effort in on Saurday a bit of down time which they will need for the big game this weekend.

"I haven't picked my team for Saturday yet and if someone plays well, their performances are supposed to give me problems. If the lads who come in perform really well then they go into my good thoughts for the weekend and that's how the lads see it. I want them to enjoy playing for this great club but ideally whoever plays, their job is to stay in the team.

"The players I've brought here, I've not brought to sit and watch. Billy Jones, Clark Robertson and Sean Raggett should get some game time.

Clark Robertson

"Fundamentally we want to win football games and whichever team I set out will be to win and go through but I'm also looking at the bigger picture and I think a lot of the Championship teams will do the same.

"I don't expect to play the Wigan team that played at Aston Villa at the weekend but the periphery of their squad are still very, very good footballers. I'm expecting a really tough game."

Warne, meanwhile, is still trying to bring in midfield reinforcements to complete his squad and has stressed that he is prepared to wait to get the men he wants before the loans window snaps shut at the end of the month.

He added: "I was more than hopeful at least one would be in last Friday. Whether I can get one in before this weekend, I don't know, but what is apparent is that at least one midfielder will join us before the loans window shuts.

"I'm trying to get my number one and number two targets at the moment and it is taking longer than I wanted. I don't want to use my loans up on someone else and then my main targets become available.

"If they come in on Thursday then great but ideally they will here in time for the Hull and Millwall games next week."

Kick-off tonight is 7.45pm.