Brentford v Rotherham United: Danny Ward provides boost for beleaguered Millers

Rotherham United striker Danny Ward has overcome injury issues and impressed in training (Picture: Tony Johnson).

ROTHERHAM UNITED'S bid to avoid setting an unwanted club record at Griffin Park this afternoon has received a timely boost.

It comes in the return to the fray of top-scorer Danny Ward as the bottom-placed Millers seek to end their away goal famine which has lasted over 10 hours since Joe Newell netted in the 2-1 loss at Fulham on December 13.

It is a few miles away in West London where Rotherham are bidding to avoid a seventh successive league game without a goal on their travels – with Paul Warne’s side having equalled the club record of six matches without an away goal for the fourth time in the Millers history last weekend.

Brentford provided a rare – and brief – chink in the light in the joyless reign of Alan Stubbs with the Bees beaten 1-0 in the reverse fixture in late August, the Liverpudlian’s sole win in 13 Championship matches in charge.

Interim-manager Warne has at least been afforded several more positive moments and an unlikely victory today would probably top the lot, more especially given that the Millers have picked just one point from a possible 51 on the road this term and were trounced 5-0 at Cardiff seven days ago.

For those hardy Millers diehards who head south today, a goal or two would certainly be nice.

Ten-goal Ward will be back in harness along with Semi Ajayi and Tom Adeyemi, who are available again after being ineligible for last weekend’s game at parent club Cardiff.

But the injury news elsewhere is decidedly mixed with full-back Darnell Fisher having suffered a setback in his road back to fitness.

Warne said: “Wardy is back and he was embarrassing the back four in training on Thursday, so that is good for his confidence and I have got Adeyemi and Ajayi back, so that is a big part of the team.

“Unfortunately, Darnell played in the reserves this week and had a bit of a setback so he will be out for a few weeks regrettably with his hamstring.

“(Almen) Belaid came through the game really well so that is good and Pricey (Lewis Price) is back in training, which is a boost for me on and off the pitch.”

Loan signing Carlton Morris is still not ready to be involved with the first-team squad following a problematic hamstring issue, but Warne has revealed that captain Lee Freckington will be in the travelling party today, although he is unlikely to feature following injury.