Rotherham United vs Derby County preview - Sammon missing for Millers

Posted Tuesday, February 17, 2015 by PA

Rotherham will be unable to select on-loan striker Connor Sammon when they face his parent club Derby.

Sammon is on loan at AESSEAL New York Stadium until the end of the season but boss Steve Evans promised Derby counterpart Steve McClaren that he would not pick Sammon in this fixture.

Danny Ward is primed to replace Sammon up front, though Evans has hinted he might change his shape for the visit of the high-flying Rams.

Defender Frazer Richardson is in contention after recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in last week's defeat at Blackburn, though Jack Hunt is likely to start in his position at right-back.

McClaren will make changes to his Derby team after swapping seven players against Reading in the FA Cup on Saturday.

One will be enforced after Stephen Warnock was sent off during the fifth round defeat to the Royals. The left-back will serve a one-match suspension, although he would probably have been one of the players to make way anyhow.

Lee Grant is expected to resume in goal at the expense of Kelle Roos while the likes of Jake Buxton, Will Hughes, Jamie Ward and Tom Ince, who was cup-tied at the weekend, are all strong contenders for recalls.

Fit-again midfielder George Thorne featured in the Rams' squad for the first time this season against Reading following a serious knee injury and he will be on the bench again, but top scorer Chris Martin (knee) remains out.