ROTHERHAM United manager Alex Bruce has thrown down the gauntlet to senior goalkeepers Julian Eyestone and Ted Cann - ahead of deciding who will start in goal in Saturday's League Two opener at Cheltenham Town.

Bruce faces a key decision ahead of his first league game at the Millers' helm.

Whoever he opts for first up, the Millers chief is confident that there will be a strong two-way fight for the keepers' gloves this term.

Eyestone arrived on loan from Brentford earlier this week.

Latest Rotherham United signing Julian Eyestone. Picture courtesy of RUFC.

placeholder image — Latest Rotherham United signing Julian Eyestone. Picture courtesy of RUFC.

The Texan-born USA youth international, 20, who has joined for the full 2026-27 campaign, became the club’s 11th new arrival of the summer window.

Bruce said: "I'm really looking forward to working with him.

"He's been away with the American national team at the World Cup. You can see that he's a big boy - 6ft 7in/8in.

"He's a good goalkeeper, you can see that straight away. He will really improve our goalkeeping area and he and Ted Cann can compete for that number-one spot."

Alex Bruce has signed a deal at Rotherham United until the summer of 2028. Picture courtesy of RUFC.

On the battle to be number one, he continued: "It's up to them to grab the shirt.

"Whoever starts with it, if they play well, they'll keep it. If they don't play well, there's someone waiting in the wings to come in. It's as simple as that.

"Ideally, you want two players competing for one place. We're lucky that in our goalkeeping department we've got two very good goalkeepers."