Rotherham United manager Steve Evans has revealed that striker Jonson Clarke-Harris could return to the squad for this Friday’s League One clash against Barnsley.
The 30-year-old has been absent since scoring in the 3-3 draw against former club Peterborough United last month. It was a game which saw him pick up a hamstring injury.
The attacker has scored four times since joining the club in the summer. The Millers have struggled in his absence, losing three games out of four including a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of League Two outfit Cheltenham Town. They also recorded defeats against Wrexham and Leyton Orient.
Rotherham now sit 14th in League One, although they are just six points off the play-off places. They visit promotion-chasing Barnsley on Friday, although have been boosted by the potential return of their captain.
Steve Evans Reveals Quick Return
Evans will be keen to return to winning ways and put their FA Cup nightmare behind them. Oakwell is a tough place to go though, so being able to call upon Clarke-Harris will provide some much-needed encouragement.
Speaking to The Rotherham Advertiser, the 62-year-old said:
“Jonson having a bit of banter in the gym with the boys. He was saying that a winner off the bench was made for him!
“I haven’t worked with Jonno for all that long but they said at Peterborough that he was a fast healer and he’s repeating that here.
“I spoke to (director of football) Barry Fry and other people there and they said he would go out but come back in quickly.”
Writer’s View
Rotherham have struggled for goals this season, scoring just 14 in 14 league games. Clarke-Harris is their top scorer with four and it’s been clear to see how much they have missed him since the Peterborough game, with the Millers having only hit the back of the net three times in his absence. This includes shut outs against Wrexham and Leyton Orient.
He’s likely to take up a place on the bench at Oakwell, but just having him available to call upon will give the squad a lift, especially if they find themselves chasing the game.
Head of Writing
