Pre-season will quite often see many clubs hand out trials to free agents in the hope they strike gold, and can bring in some quality without having to pay a fee. Some players will be happy to get some match fitness under their belt, whilst for many it won’t necessarily mean a contract is waiting at the end of it.
Rotherham United managed to stay in the Championship last season, after years of yo-yoing between this league and League One. This season will be another battle for them, and they have handed a trial to Andre Green. The winger was on loan with Preston North End for the first half of the 2019/20 season.
It didn’t really go to plan for Green who was with Aston Villa at the time. He had enjoyed a loan spell the previous season at Portsmouth in League One, but he found opportunities hard to come by under Alex Neil at Deepdale. Much like a few other loan players during that period, including Stephy Mavididi who was recently linked with a move to Leicester City.
Green played just six games for Preston in the end, managing to score in the Carabao Cup against Bradford City. He didn’t get one start in the league so it was therefore not a surprise when he cancelled his loan spell, and instead moved to Charlton Athletic until the end of the season.
It also wasn’t a surprise when in just his second game for The Addicks he scored against North End at Deepdale. Preston still managed to win that game though, with goals from Josh Harrop and Patrick Bauer.
After being released by Aston Villa, Green joined Sheffield Wednesday for a short stay before moving to Slovakia with Slovan Bratislava.
Green was impressive in his two seasons at the club, clocking up 23 goals in 81 appearances, including seven goals in European competition as well.
Still only 24, he has found himself back in England on trial at Rotherham United, and on Tuesday he put forward a fantastic case for a longer stay with The Millers. In a home friendly against Sheffield United, the ball fell to him with his back to goal after a flick on from former North Ender Jordan Hugill.
Green tried an audacious back heeled flick which flew over Wes Foderingham in into the back of the net. A stunning goal. Did he mean it? Only he will know, but either way it looked impressive.
That was the second game of his trial spell, and it is thought Rotherham manager Matt Taylor will make a decision on his future before the end of the week.
Whatever happens, you’ll struggle to find a better goal scored in pre-season this year.