Cheltenham v Rotherham preview

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Cheltenham striker Byron Harrison is pushing for a start after opening his account for the club last weekend.

The former AFC Wimbledon hitman came off the bench to net a last-minute consolation in the 3-1 defeat Burton and the 25-year-old will be hoping to get the nod to face the Millers.

Jermaine McGlashan was introduced at half-time along with Harrison and the winger is also pushing for a start.

Manager Mark Yates has no fresh injury worries with defender Harry Hooman their only absentee for the clash against a side level on points with the Robins in npower League Two.

But Yates will not be able to name Jason Taylor in the squad against his former employees due to a gentleman’s agreement between the two clubs when the midfielder moved to Cheltenham in the January transfer window.

The defeat to Burton last time out was Cheltenham’s first defeat in seven games and they remain three points off the automatic promotion places.

Rotherham will be still be without Kari Arnason and Mark Bradley.

Arnason completes a two-match ban for his red card in last week’s damaging home defeat to Dagenham while right-back Mark Bradley is out for the season with a cracked bone in his foot.

Both men missed Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Wycombe and boss Steve Evans may stick with the back four that played at Adams Park or bring Craig Morgan into a central berth and move Johnny Mullins back to right-back.

Elsewhere, Daniel Kearns could be pushing for a start on the wing following his comeback from a hamstring injury, though Evans is likely to stick with his front six.

Former Millers midfielder Jason Taylor, who signed for the Robins in January, is not expected to play following a gentleman’s agreement between the two clubs.

The Millers are in fifth position, three points off the automatic promotion places and with nine games to go, any finish in the top seven is a possibility.

Cheltenham v Rotherham preview

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Cheltenham are in the perfect position to continue their good recent run of form, as manager Mark Yates has no injury or suspension worries for the match.

The Robins currently sit second in League One, having lost just once in their last 13 outings in the league, and could climb to the division’s summit if results go their way on the night.

Yates is unlikely to change his starting line-up from the side that secured a creditable goalless draw against fourth-placed Shrewsbury on Boxing Day.

Huddersfield striker Jimmy Spencer has extended his loan deal at Whaddon Road through until the end of the season, and will be hoping to keep his place up front.

Meanwhile, Rotherham will pick Conrad Logan in goal for the final time on Friday.

The 25-year-old’s six-month loan stay at Don Valley comes to an end and manager Andy Scott has confirmed he will return to Leicester after the Whaddon Road clash.

Winger Marcus Marshall will play no part after suffering an ankle injury in training on Wednesday and he has been ruled out for the New Year programme.

Defender Johnny Mullins suffered a head injury in Boxing Day’s 0-0 draw at Macclesfield and he will face a test with a decision being made on his availability on Friday morning.

Winger Gareth Evans made a surprise return at Moss Rose following an ankle injury and suffered no adverse reaction so he will be involved again while Mark Bradley (shoulder) and Ryan Cresswell (ankle) are both back in full training.

Scott is confident his side can get something out of the game and said: “They are riding a crest of confidence and it is a tough place to go at any time but we think we can cause them as many problems as they can cause us.”

Cheltenham v Rotherham preview

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Cheltenham will be without Jeff Goulding, Josh Low and Keith Lowe.

Goulding was forced off after just 15 minutes of last weekend’s crushing 8-1 defeat at Crewe having hurt his ankle, with it touch and go whether the 10-goal striker will play again this season.

Winger Low missed the clash altogether having sustained a blow to his shin in training ahead of the game, although he is expected to return into contention for next weekend’s trip to Burton.

Right-back Lowe also missed the mauling at Gresty Road with an ankle injury which is expected to keep him sidelined for a couple more weeks.

On-loan Ashley Eastham has returned to Blackpool following the completion of his stay, with the young centre-back keen to try and secure a new contract with the Premier League club as his current deal expires in the summer.

Full-back Kyle Haynes has been recalled from his loan spell with non-league Hednesford and is set to make Town’s matchday 18, along with youth-team captain James Fawke, who is hoping for his first-team debut.

Tom Pope could return to the Rotherham line-up after caretaker boss Andy Liddle recalled the striker at Port Vale this week.

Pope netted three times during his spell in Staffordshire but, with Rotherham just a single point behind Vale in 10th place, he has returned to help the Millers’ cause.

Fellow forward Ian Thomas-Moore has been sidelined with a thigh problem, but is optimistic over his chances of facing Cheltenham.

“It has been a strange injury because it is not something that I have had before,” Thomas-Moore told the Sheffield Star. “It is getting better every day so hopefully I will be okay.”

Skipper Ryan Creswell is set to return from a similar injury, while reserve goalkeeper Jamie Annerson is poised to start after Andy Warrington underwent surgery on a chipped bone in his foot.