Rotherham United: Millers players are not for sale, insists Evans

The League Two promotion hopefuls have had a busy summer recruiting, and Evans says the club are working hard behind the scenes to bring in another two players to add to the squad which took a point from their derby meeting with neighbours Chesterfield on Saturday.

“I am hopeful that we can do some business, but as I have maintained, if we are going to add to the squad it needs to be players who can add to what we have and not just more of the same,” said Evans.

“It may not look like it from outside but Rotherham United are working really hard in relation to two specific players.

“Last week I took several calls in relation to buying two of our players but those managers at Championship and League One level have been clearly told we are not selling and they can go elsewhere.

“I have a meeting with the chairman early in the week to discuss the squad in detail and the players that we have an interest in.

“I have said many times, there are transfer funds and loan wages available but we have to spend those monies wisely.”

One of the summer additions, Kayode Odejayi was on target to earn the Millers a point at Chesterfield.

The hosts took the lead early on after a slip from Millers goalkeeper Scott Shearer let in Drew Talbot and his cross was tapped home by Jordan Bowery.

Odejayi levelled when he turned Sam Hird and placed his finish beyond Spireites goalkeeper Tommy Lee.

The draw, though, left Evans frustrated.

“For the second match in a row we have come up against an inspired goalkeeping performance. Tommy Lee made some outstanding saves whereas, and I stand to be corrected, Scott Shearer blocked an early shot, apart from that he did not have a save to make,” he said.

“After their opening goal when Scott Shearer slipped over, we showed some fantastic character.

“Our quality of play in the second half was again top class and we moved the ball around in a real positive way. Chesterfield are a decent team, they have good players and supporters so this was always going to be a tough test but I felt we dealt with it.

“I had no option other than to play Kari Arnason in central defence as Johnny Mullins was just short of being fit to start such a competitive match.”

Mullins has bruising around the knee joint and is due to play for the reserves tomorrow to stake his claim for a place in the team to face Bradford City on Saturday.

Chesterfield: Lee, Forbes, Hird, Trotman, Smith, Talbot, Allott, Togwell, Whitaker (Ridehalgh 78), Richards (Lester 71), Bowery. Unused substitutes: O’Donnell, Randall, Clay, Boden, Hazel.

Rotherham: Shearer, Bradley, Arnason, Sharps, Wilson, Taylor, Noble, Evans (Revell 81), Ainsworth (Agard 73), Pringle (Rose 90), Odejayi. Unused substitutes: Warrington, Mullins, O’Connor, Nardiello.

Referee: D Drysdale (Lincolnshire).

Man of the match: Kayode Odejayi.