Huddersfield Town boss Lee Grant's admission regarding Marcus McGuane and praise for Will Alves

Leicester City loanee Alves, in his first start since September 20, found the net with a cracker in the Terriers' comfortable 3-0 EFL Trophy win over Rotherham United, as the hosts booked a place in the last 16 of the EFL Trophy with consummate ease.

McGuane, in his maiden start for the club and first on home soil - his previous appearance for the club was at Blackpool in mid-August - provided the assist for Alves' fine opener.

Alves went close to an encore when he cut inside and hit the bar with Lasse Sorensen nodding in the rebound to make it 2-0 at the break. Cam Ashia added a late third for Town.

Grant said: "They (Alves and McGuane) were excellent, I have to say.

"I thought Cammy and Will in the first half really tormented the full-back and the defender on that (Rotherham right) side. So that was really pleasing. I thought Will was really productive in those moments.

"So, yes, there were lots to like from an attacking perspective."

"He (McGuane) is a new signing because he hasn't played for us.

"And obviously that is a huge disappointment to this point that we've not had him. So he knows he's not where he needs to be. "Having spoken to him afterwards, he was feeling really tired.

"So 45 minutes was the absolute limit for him tonight. We're not in a position where we're able to get carried away and say, we've got Marcus McGuane available now for each and every week because that's his first minutes (since August).

"And actually, because of the structure of training over the last few weeks, festive period and what not, we've not been able to train properly.

"So the days where we would usually have the 11v11 practises and we'd go hammer and tongs in training, we're just not getting it because every day is a matchday minus one. So that is literally his first minutes in 'big space'.

"His legs and lungs are going to be feeling that tomorrow, that's for sure, but it's definitely a huge step forward."

On the overall positives, he continued: "Goals and a clean sheet, which is nice, and Will Alves and Marcus McGuane from the start and Mikel Miller for half an hour is massive for us.

"I think, in terms of what we asked for them to deliver, it was really good. Really good on that. Control, speed, energy, active.

"Lots and lots of people available and looking for the ball, trying to take the football and trying to make things happen and trying and trying again. And that buys you the goals and that was enjoyable to watch. So it was a really pleasing first half."