Rotherham United's self-confessed 'Mallik Wilks lover' on how to get the best out of forward

The 25-year-old from Leeds is already on his eighth professional club with varying results, but fans of Hull City and Doncaster Rovers can confirm there is a player in there. His stunning first Rotherham goal to win Saturday's League One Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield Town in only his second league start since joining on loan from Sheffield Wednesday showed as much.

And as the manager who handed the forward his first professional contract at Leeds United eight years ago, Evans is confident he knows how to get the best out of him.

"It's love," he explained.

"We've all spoken in the last week as a coaching staff about how the game's evolved the last seven or eight years. A lot of it has become a lot more about individual man-management of players and staff as opposed to a group dynamic.

"Mallik knew fine well I didn't like him when he played against my teams and he used to give me a little wink when he went down the tunnel after scoring against them. But he also knows how much I rated him as a player and a lad.

"With Sheffield Wednesday's permission we'd been doing a lot of work behind the scenes with him before it (the loan) was sanctioned.

"He was well aware when he walked through the door he was coming to a Mallik Wilks lover in the man who picked the team but ultimately he has to produce performances.

"He's demonstrated when he's worn the shirt at Wycombe and in his brief subs appearance at Fleetwood in the second half he was the one who could help us and he'll help us over the next 40-odd games."

Wilks scored 14 goals to put Doncaster in the 2018-19 League One play-offs, and 19 when Hull won the division two years later, both under Grant McCann’s management.

Rotherham head south tomorrow for a game against Charlton Athletic with defenders Sean Raggett and Joe Rafferty on the bus but Evans has not yet decided if either will play, and he has promised they will only do so if 100 per cent ready after the Millers' injury woes last season.

Both were signed on free transfer from Portsmouth in the summer but Raggett injured his knee on the opening day of the season, Rafferty his groin.

“Both have been in training this week,” revealed Evans.

“They're top-class players and we've missed them. We're looking forward to having them back.

“It's about the reactions overnight. We had a good training session today (Thursday) with plenty of movement.

"We'll head south tomorrow and train again at real intensity in preparation for Saturday. Then we'll know whether two of the back four of last season's champions are ready to play.

“What we can’t do is play them if they're not ready.

"They're two of the champions from last season for a reason, they're top-class defenders, and we want them available, but only at 100 per cent. The days of playing 60 and 70 per cent and trying to get through are surely gone."

Christ Tiehi is the only other doubt, with a knock, but it is not thought to be a serious threat to his chances of playing at the weekend.

Rotherham have confirmed their 22-man squad of senior outfield players for the remainder of 2024, and have included Andre Green despite the former Sheffield Wednesday forward having not played since October 2023 because of a ruptured tendon.

"Andre's miles away at the minute but we kept him in because we have a real belief we can see him in October/November. If we'd signed two or three players it would have ben a different conversation but he was on the grass all last week and he's training well – not with the group yet," said Evans.

"But the minute you've got Green fit you've got a major asset and November/December are particularly important."

With one slot available, Evans is not ignoring the free agent market, but thinks it is unlikely he will take up the option.

"It's my job to be aware of everything that happens," he said. "The problem you have with that market is probably 95 per cent of those players have not kicked a ball in earnest since April or May – probably longer if they weren't in the plans.

"There are some players who have trained at Championship level and just at the very end weren't offered something.

"We're very aware of what's happening in that market and we can move very quickly if we identify someone."

SQUAD: Cameron Dawson*, Joe Rafferty, Cohen Bramall, Liam Kelly, Sean Raggett, Reece James, Joe Powell, Sam Nombe, Jonson Clarke-Harris, Jordan Hugill, Andre Green, Mallik Wilks, Alex MacDonald, Zak Jules, Shaun McWilliams, Detlef Esapa Osong*, Dillon Phillips*, Joseph Hungbo, Hakeem Odoffin, Jack Holmes, Cameron Humphreys, Christ Tiehi, Jamie McCart, Ben Hatton*, Harry Tchekwa.

* Not included as part of the 22-man due to age or position (goalkeeper).