Manager Paul Warne feels his Rotherham United side will start taking the chances they’re creating sooner rather than later – though Richie Wellens will hope that does not start this weekend.
The Rotherham manager says he has seen positive performances from his side despite the club’s recent form and there are some players in the Millers squad Rovers will have to watch out for.
Shane Ferguson
Capable of playing as a left back or winger, Northern Ireland international Shane Ferguson inked a contract with Rotherham United in July 2021, following the expiration of his contract at Millwall.
He spent six years at The Den, making over 200 appearances for Millwall. Born in Derry, Ferguson began his senior career at Newcastle in 2009, years later being loaned to Birmingham City. He would later serve loan spells at Rangers and Millwall. Ultimately, Ferguson would make a permanent move to The Den in 2016. Smith earned his first Northern Ireland call-up to the senior team in 2009, where he was capped 47 times and scored a goal.
Freddie Ladapo
When Freddie Ladapo signed for Rotherham from Plymouth Argyle in 2019, the club broke its transfer record fee to land the forward.
Since his arrival, he has been one of the Millers top scorers each season. Last year, he registered nine goals in the Championship, while scoring 17 goals in 2019/20 – a season that helped the Miller secure promotion from League One.
This year, Ladapo has already produced a goal in four matches for Rotherham. He has a team-high matching 50.0 goals per shot on target percentage. After beginning his senior career for Colchester United in 2011, Ladapo later served loan spells for several clubs including Thurrock, Chelmsford City, Woking, Oldham Athletic and Shrewsbury Town in his extensive career.
Kieran Sadlier
A familiar name for Rovers fans Kieran Sadlier spent two-years with Rovers playing on the wing and occasionally as a centre-forward. He had a good goal record at the club chipping in with 14.
Since his arrival to AESSEAL New York Stadium for the Millers in August 2020, Sadlier has dealt with injuries that have kept him on the sidelines for extensive periods. He played in just 16 matches for the Millers in 2020/21, but has already managed to see action in two games this season.
The midfielder has delivered nine crosses into the box, and netting a goal as well. Internationally, though born in Haywards Heath, Sadlier elected to play for the Republic of Ireland U17, U19 and U21 teams. He began his youth career with Cambridge United, later beginning his senior career with West Ham United.
Michael Smith
For almost four years now, Michael Smith has been bagging goals for fun in a Rotherham United kit. Since signing for the club from Bury in January 2018, the out-and-out striker has produced more than 30 goals in almost 150 appearances for the club.
Last season, Smith led the team with 10 goals in all competitions, and he has already scored one goal this season – that coming in a 1-0 defeat of Morecambe in League One play. Smith also has an assist to his credit on the campaign. In all this season, he has taken 15 shots, six of them on target, for a 40% shots on target average. The opposition struggle with his pace at times. He’s drawn a team-high eight fouls, and has delivered 12 crosses into the box. As stated, Smith arrived to Rotherham from Bury, where he signed a two-year contract for the club in August 2017, only to make a move to the Milers five months later.