Price is right for Warne after seizing Checkatrade chance
ROTHERHAM UNITED manager Paul Warne says that goalkeeper Lewis Price is firmly in the mix to feature in Saturday’s derby at Doncaster Rovers.
The 33-year-old custodian made his first Millers appearance since early April in Tuesday night’s 3-0 Checkatrade Trophy victory at Bradford City – with Warne admitting he has a decision to make as to whether Price or Richard O’Donnell starts at the Keepmoat Stadium, with loanee Marek Rodek on international duty with Slovakia under-21s.
On Price’s chances of featuring ahead of O’Donnell, who made a costly mistake in the weekend FA Cup exit at Crewe, Warne said: “I cannot see why not. I would not disregard anyone’s opportunity.
“Pricey kept a clean sheet and if he trains the best and catches our eye for Saturday, he has got as much right to that shirt as Rich or Marek has.
“We have been conceding goals and we have to look to change things. I am not blaming the goalkeepers solely for that.
“But I will pick a team for Saturday that I think will be the most competitive. If that includes Pricey, good luck to him.”
Meanwhile, Warne has confirmed that top-scorer Kieffer Moore, Michael Ihiekwe and Darren Potter will be available for Saturday’s derby against nearneighbours Rovers, despite some suggestions that they may miss the game through suspension.
The Millers are set to be backed by a travelling contingent of just under 4,000 for the lunch-time kick off and Warne says that one or two other senior players who caught the eye in the trophy win at Valley Parade have provided him with some food for thought.
Warne said: “It was a good chance to impress and lot of players came away with a lot of plaudits. They should be happy with their day’s work.
“We had not won for a few games, so it was nice to get back to winning ways.” HUDDERSFIELD TOWN captain Tommy Smith is a shining example to all young players starting out in the professional game, according to the club’s former manager Chris Powell.
Defender Smith, 25, was released by Manchester City earlier in his career but has been integral to the Terriers’ remarkable success and is now head coach David Wagner’s leader in the Premier League.
“His journey is a lesson to a lot of young players,” said Powell, a right-back himself as a player.
“When they’re at a big club and they move down they just need to get themselves playing again. He did that and look at him now.”
Smith joined City’s academy from Tranmere when he was 11 but failed to force his way into the first-team picture under previous managers Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini.
His contract was terminated by mutual consent in the summer of 2012 so he could find another club.
Smith had trials at Oxford before teaming back up with former Huddersfield coach Steve Eyre, who he had worked with at City, and made his league debut in a 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday in November 2013.
“When you see him lift the (Sky Bet Championship play-off ) trophy alongside Mark Hudson, who came in around my time – it’s just really great to see,” said Powell.
And Powell believes Wagner’s side is currently full of players who share Smith’s burning desire to succeed in the top flight.
“I’m sure as games go by that they believe they can play at the level. That’s key,” he added.
“I take it from my own journey as a player when I first played in the Premier League. You look at it and admire it from afar and then all of a sudden you’re in it and you want to prove to people that you can play at the level – that’s a real driving factor for many of Huddersfield’s players.”