Source: FOOTYMAD
Miller aims for bench berth
Returning striker hoping to be in travelling party Ishmael Miller is hoping he’s proved his fitness ahead of Saturday’s trip to Queens Park Rangers (KO 3pm). The powerful striker played 70 minutes in his comeback from injury for the reserves yesterday after picking up an ankle injury against Blackpool a month ago. The former Manchester City man had only just returned from a 14-month lay-off from a serious knee injury. However, Miller claims he’s now feeling fitter than before his short lived return and hoping to travel with the squad this weekend to Loftus Road. "It was great," said Miller after the 0-0 stalemate with Walsall. "It's the longest I have played in over a year. "I played 70 minutes and I got through it okay. "I was supposed to play 60 but I felt alright so they said I could play an extra ten minutes and it went well, even though it was a heavy pitch. "The knee is fine, the ankle is fine and everything's fine, so I'm great. "I don't think I'm ready to start a first-team game yet but I am just trying to be there for the squad. "Hopefully I will be back in the squad for the weekend and just get on the progression ladder and get back to fitness. "I haven't played regularly for so long and I just want to get minutes on the pitch and get my sharpness back as soon as possible. "Hopefully it will happen this season but if it doesn't then it will happen next season. "But the bench is definitely a possibility on Saturday. "I haven't had a lot of game time this season so I am just really trying to urge on the players that have been playing every week. "Their bones and muscles are tired. "If I get the nod, great, but I am just trying to get fit because when I am fit I am a decent player and I can help the squad and the team out." The pace added: "I feel alright at this minute in time. "I feel better now than when I first came back in against Nottingham Forest, which is a good thing. "I don't want to put too much pressure on myself because I've done enough of that and have been getting frustrated at myself because I've not been as sharp as I'd like to be. "Obviously, it's just going to take time. "With me it sometimes takes longer than other players because of the way I'm built."
