Rotherham United ready to hit ground running for ‘September 12’ restart

The Millers are working under a series of restrictions after getting back on the training field on July 1 following their promotion to the Championship on a points-per-game basis.

Warne’s squad are still working in smaller groups while players are being GPS tracked to ensure they do not spend too much time in close contact with each other.

The Rotherham manager feels that the Premier League and Championship sides who are still playing out their seasons have been forced to “microwave” their players fit, something he wants to avoid.

He is keen to circumvent a build up of injuries for Rotherham when the 2020-21 campaign gets underway, which he has been told will start on September 12.

“In the games in the Championship, and in the Premier League, the lads are picking up quite a few soft tissue injuries because they have been microwaved fit,” said Warne.

“We are allowing this time to get fit, but not as quick. I think it is going to be September when we get back.

“We have trained for over a week now, we will train for another two weeks and then I will let them have a week off.

“Then we come into a five or six-week period with friendly games behind closed doors.

“If they end up telling us that it is August 15 for the season start then we are snookered, but hopefully it is September 12.”

Despite having much more time to prepare for next season, Warne does not feel that his side have a step on their rivals by returning to training earlier than those still seeing out the campaign. He admits the Millers are far from match fit while other squads are at full fitness, owing to the intense schedule.

“I wouldn’t say it is an advantage but more of a bonus that we can sit back and watch these games,” he added.

“What I would say is that while they are match fit, we are definitely not match fit.

“We are probably five or six games away from being match fit and we are six or seven players away from being anywhere near where we want to be as a squad.

“We are probably six or seven weeks training away from being in a position to play but there is an advantage that we can see the remaining games.”

Meanwhile, Billy Jones and Lewis Price are both close to extending their respective stays at the club after their contracts expired last month.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor