Rotherham United v Preston North End – Millers boss Paul Warne welcomes break in order to rest and repair players
The international break is usually met with widespread disdain by football fans but Rotherham United manager Paul Warne will be grateful when it arrives next week.
The Millers host Preston North End today, hoping to bounce back from a 1-0 home loss to Luton Town on Wednesday night.
The hectic fixture schedule has given Rotherham less time on the training field and after being hit with a host of injury problems this season, Warne will welcome the two-week break between fixtures.
“You’re constantly recovering, preparing, recovering, preparing. It would be nice to get a positive result,” he said.
“The break then gives you an opportunity to rest a few, recuperate a few and put some more things into them.
“It’s been difficult for the coaches to coach the players because you just don’t have them on the grass. They’re just recovering all the time. It will be nice to get through this weekend and then breathe really.”
Warne is tempted to turn to the free-agent market during the international break with Shaun MacDonald, Chiedozie Ogbene and Clark Robertson facing long-term injuries.
Joe Mattock is also set to miss out against North End after picking up a hamstring strain in the defeat to Luton. Jamal Blackman has played through an ankle injury and will also get the chance to recover during the break.
“When you’re tired, it isn’t as easy. It isn’t as easy to go past people, people are slashing at balls and mis-timing headers,” reflected Warne.
“That can be down to fatigue. That’s on me. No-one else is to blame.”
Preston won 3-0 at Reading on Wednesday evening and have yet to lose a game away from home this campaign.
Alex Neil’s side have picked up 13 points from the 15 on the road, while losing all five of their games at Deepdale.
Warne feels that is down to the absence of supporters and that home advantage is virtually non-existent this season.
He said: “I don’t think there’s any home advantage anymore. Every game is on its own merit.
“If you play Preston at home or away, in my opinion it is the same game. When we played Stoke last weekend, they didn’t have 30,000 fans encouraging their team.
“It is neutral playing ground. In the same way when we played Luton, we really missed the fans. When we had a rough spell, that is when the fans would usually be there to encourage the team.”
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