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Luton's loan duo to miss out
Experienced heads come back into contention for the visit of Rotherham United
Neither of Luton Town's latest signings will be able to play tomorrow night when Rotherham United visit Kenilworth Road for their FA Cup second round replay.
Striker Matthew Barnes-Homer, who will sign permanently from Kidderminster Harriers in January, and young Coventry winger Ashley Cain will both miss out for the visit of the League Two high-fliers.
As a result, experienced heads, Kevin Gallen and Kevin Nicholls, who were both rested for Saturday's goalless draw at Blue Square Premier strugglers Chester City, are likely to come back into contention.
Mercurial Frenchman Claude Gnakpa will also be available again after serving a one match suspension, but Ed Asafu-Adjaye and Lewis Emanuel are still struggling to regain match fitness after long term injuries, while keeper Mark Tyler and target man Liam Hatch are still sidelined.
Town manager Richard Money said: "Barnes-Homer and Ashley Cain are not available for tomorrow night so it's the same before Saturday and we will use the same group of players we have done prior to then. We have got a good squad around us at the moment and have plenty to pick from.
On Gallen and Nicholls' absences from Saturday's squad, he said: "I genuinely felt it was the right time to give them a breather and we've asked a lot of them."
If the Hatters can get the better of the Millers, after being held to a 2-2 draw at the Don Valley Stadium in the initial tie, Money believes they will have hit their target in the FA Cup.
And while the prospect of a trip to Southampton's St Mary's home on Saturday, January 2, may not have the glamour of a Premier League tie there were plenty worse around, and Money thinks both teams will be keen to net the "in-between" fixture against the Saints.
He said: "Both teams will be anxious to get through to the third round. There's something very special about playing on third round day."
"It would be a good pitch and I'm sure we would bring lots. From that point of views it's a decent draw."
Money was pleased with the performances against Cambridge United and Kettering Town - up until the Hatters fell behind - and hopes Town's fans will continue to get behind their team.
He added: "We need them behind us as they have been in every game since I've been here.
"I can guarantee we have a group of players here who are working extremely hard."
Rotherham, meanwhile, will field a very similar to team that they played in the first encounter.
Centre-half Nick Fenton is likely to be replace by Marc Joseph, cup-tied right winger Adam Rundle, who played against Luton in the first round for Rochdale, will make way for either Ryan Taylor or Danny Harrison, and struggling left-back Stephen Brogan could be replaced by either Jamie Green or Andrew Nicholas.
Millers manager Ronnie Moore said: "It's going to be a really tough game for us but if we play to the best of our ability we will have a good chance winning the game."
On the previous encounter, he continued: "Both manager thought they were the betters sides after the match but personally I thought we were the stronger team.
"We were comfortable and I really couldn't see the second goal coming from Luton."
And on the prospect of the game at Kenilworth Road, he added: "It's not the best of places to go, it is a tight and compact ground and the crowd are normally really up for it.
"I've been there with Rotherham and with Tranmere in the past so I know what we are in for, which is a good thing in a way because I'll have the team well prepared before kick-off."
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Weather for Luton
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
