Will Vaulks has appetite to make his mark at Rotherham United

Alongside a number of his team-mates, the industrious midfielder has found the going difficult with the Millers propping up the Championship table and in dire trouble following a fraught opening third of the campaign.

If the Millers are to somehow dig themselves out of their desperate hole, a fighting mentality, attitude and application will be everything and, in that respect, Jackett sees positive signs in Vaulks.

On Vaulks, who was the subject of rival interest from Barnsley before heading to the club from Falkirk, Millers manager Jackett said: “He is a very hard-working lad who is keen. Listening to him talk about leaving Tranmere as a centre-back and going up to Falkirk about playing as defender/midfielder who went initially to play for nothing as the club were struggling financially, it is a good, humbling story and a hard-working one.

“He has been looking for a chance and opportunity as have many players who have been left out of the team so far.

“I have been impressed by his attitude and feel he has a little bit of everything as a midfield player and it will be interesting how he develops. If he can keep the same attitude, running and fitness, that will be a very good start.”

While Vaulks is far from the finished article in terms of forging his identity as a Championship midfielder, Jackett is confident his evolution will continue successfully.

He added: “Being an effective midfield player is not just passing, it is heading, running and tackling and the best ones can do it all. As a player who has played many games in his young career, albeit at a lower level, in the back four, it is something he (Vaulks) should be able to bring into midfield.”

Bradford City and Sheffield United have been fined by the Football League for fielding weakened teams in the Checkatrade Trophy group stages.

A quarter of all League One and Two clubs competing were fined, the Blades and City hit with a £3,000 punishment.

EFL teams had to meet “full strength” criteria that meant five of their starting line-ups had to have started the previous or following game, or have five of the 11 players who have made the most starting appearances in league or cup fixtures this season.