Wrexham Evening Leader

Michael Proctor eager to face Rotherham
By Shaun Holden, Evening Leader

20/12/07

Michael ProctorMICHAEL PROCTOR is determined to regain his place in Brian Little's starting eleven for the visit to his former club Rotherham on Saturday.

The Wrexham striker started last weekend's defeat to fellow strugglers Brentford on the substitutes' bench, as Little decided to shuffle his pack by moving recently deployed midfielders Chris Llewellyn and Neil Roberts back into attack.

Proctor did make an his appearance after 77 minute replacing defender Shaun Pejic. But within in seconds of coming on, the home side conceded a third and his hopes of making an impression were dashed.

"Being left out is just one of those things," said Proctor. "We've got a big squad here and everybody is vying for a place in the first team, it's just something I have to accept.

"I'll be working as hard as I can in training this week to impress the manager and get my place back.

"But I think that goes for everybody – at the end of the day if you're not performing then there are plenty of players waiting to come in for you," said Proctor.

"It was good to come in at half time last Saturday and it was something we wanted to build on. But we went out in the second half and did not perform again and that is a big disappointment for us.

"We didn't play anywhere near what we are capable of and that is something we must put right over a busy Christmas period if we are to get out of our current position."

Wrexham travel to Rotherham at the weekend, before entertaining Rochdale at The Racecourse on Boxing Day and Stockport County three days later.

Proctor spent 15 months at Millmoor, after being involved in a swap deal that saw Darren Byfield move to Sunderland.

Wrexham's top goalscorer scored eight goals in 42 starts for Rotherham and is eager to be given the chance of turning The Racecourse team's fortunes around – starting this weekend.

"I had some good and bad times at Rotherham, but I'm looking forward to the game at my former club and hopefully we can come back to North Wales with the three points.

Lying in 23rd position, Wrexham will need a big improvement on recent performances if they are to come away fromYorkshire with anything.

Rotherham's last game, at Bradford City, was postponed meaning they haven't played since losing 4-2 at home to Rochdale on December 8 with the man Proctor replaced – Lee McEvilly – getting himself on the scoresheet.

Despite the loss, Mark Robins' side are still fifth in the League Two table, and Proctor knows the task will be anything but easy, adding: "Rotherham have had a good start to the season, but we've got to go there and put what's happened in the last two weeks behind us and really give it our all."

Meanwhile, Newport County struck in the final minute to beat Swansea City 1-0 and progress to the semi-final of the FAW Premier Cup.

Charlie Griffin scored in the closing seconds of the match to set up a semi-final tie against either Welshpool Town or Cardiff City.

Wrexham play their quarter final away against Llanelli on Wednesday, January 9.