Despite
Rotherham’s win over Hull dragging them back in to the survival race in the Sky
Bet Championship, January still looks set to be a pivotal month.
Boss Neil
Redfearn is desperate to bring some added quality into the squad as he plots to
keep his side in the division.
A
centre-half, right-back and new striker could all be on the shopping list as
the Millers aim to strengthen at both ends of the pitch.
The
expected influx at New York Stadium inevitably means that there are likely to
be players going the other way.
Redfearn
said last week: “I envisage some players leaving in January. I think that's
natural. Some players will always move on.
“It's
important that the number of your group is a healthy number. There's no point
having people who are going to get nowhere near your first team and are going
to be sat at home on a Saturday afternoon.
“They all
need to feel like that they've got a chance of getting in or around it. So it's
a natural process that some will move on.”
Here we
look at which players, separate to those who are already out on loan, could be
heading out of the Millers next month.
Paul Green
The experienced
midfielder has not featured since his harrowing appearance against Ipswich
where he was at fault for two goals and went on to get booed by his own fans.
Still probably able to do a job, the Millers’ midfield has moved on since that
day in November and the 32-year-old will want – and needs – game time at this
stage in his career.
Frazer Richardson
Richardson’s
opportunities this season have been restricted by injuries and illness and he
is in a similar position to Green. He has also not featured since the Ipswich
game and at 33, the right-back will not want to be sat in the stands on a
Saturday.
Emmanuel Ledesma
Redfearn
recently said the former Middlesbrough winger is one player whose name has been
circulated to other clubs and he is almost certain for a January exit – provided someone
wants him. He has featured for just eight minutes under Redfearn and appears
unable to win the new boss over.
Matt Derbyshire
Most likely to be dependant on whether Redfearn can bring anyone in up front, but the Millers
boss might be tempted to allow Derbyshire to leave if there is interest. The
striker has not started since the defeat to Ipswich, though has featured
regularly from the bench. He has failed to rediscover his form of last season
and Redfearn appears to be looking in a different direction.
