Mixed emotions to be recalled - Pope

Pope was hauled back from his loan at boyhood team Port Vale on Thursday and went straight into the Millers side for their 1-1 draw.

But Tom revealed to Millersplayer he was surprised to start after scoring 3 goals in 13 matches at Vale Park.

"I got an initial phone call on Wednesday morning saying I was being called back to Rotherham. I have mixed emotions because I was enjoying myself at Port Vale but I was always going to be coming back to Rotherham anyway - at the end of the day I'm contracted to Rotherham and I've got to do whatever they ask of me," said the striker, who made no secret of his desire to leave the club after being targeted with abuse by some supporters under Ronnie Moore's tenure.

Pope added: "I was surprised to be in the team. It was between me, Alfie and Ryan Taylor and I was expecting to be on the bench. But I played and I felt I did alright. I worked hard and if one of the headers had gone in it would probably have been a different game. At Vale I scored three and they were all pretty similar to those chances.

"Lids and Warney want you giving 100% and while you've got lads willing to do that then it's probably best playing to their strengths and play players who are going to chase channels like myself and stop the opposition from playing."

Pope, with a year to run on a three year contract, was substituted with ten minutes to go for Adam Le Fondre and will remain with the Millers for the rest of the campaign.