Hereford United v Rotherham United: Much-travelled Ani's chance to make mark with Millers

NIGERIAN striker Jeremiah Ani has been asked to help Rotherham United out of a crisis.

The Millers are down to the bare bones in attack and manager Ronnie Moore has so far failed in a bid to sign his son, Ian Thomas-Moore, from Tranmere Rovers.

Ani, 25, has played for clubs in Malta, China, Spain, USA, Portugal, and Finland but has yet to prove that he is equipped for English football.

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However, Ani has still landed a one-month contract with the Millers after a spell on trial and could make his debut this afternoon at Hereford United.

"We are very short of strikers right now but 'Jerry' is very raw," admitted Moore. "He is strong, quick, backs into people, and holds the ball up well but it's whether he is going to be able to get enough goals?"

With Tom Pope and Ryan Taylor still recovering from broken metatarsals, Moore had signed youngster Tom Elliott on a six-month loan deal from Leeds United at the start of the season to provide cover.

Elliott, however, has been ordered to 'toughen up' by Moore after refusing to play through the pain barrier when carrying minor injuries.

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"Everybody carries a knock or a sore ankle or a sore knee and if you don't want to play when you're like that then you're not going to clock up many miles in the game," said Moore. "He's cried off with a thigh strain now and it's a major problem.

"I probably need to have a good word because if he is waiting to be 100 per cent, he is never going to play."

Apart from Adam Le Fondre, who bagged four goals against Cheltenham last weekend, the Millers' only other options in attack are player-coach Paul Warne, 37, or winger Marcus Marshall.

It is understood that Moore has offered 30,000 to sign his son but Tranmere are holding out for 50,000.