Frustration for Rotherham United defender Tolaji Bola after no loan move away from the Millers

The left-back has been left off the squad list the Millers have submitted to the EFL and can't move to another league club until the New Year because the transfer window has come to a close.

His only hope of football between now and January is a temporary switch to a non-league side.

“We've tried to get him out on loan for the last three months,” Taylor said. “We just couldn't get it done. We got close with a couple of options but nothing ever materialised. It's a real shame for Tolaji.

“We can't use him in matchday squads. He's training with the main group at the moment because the numbers still aren't where we want them to be.”

Rotherham have four players yet to return from injuries and are working on deals to bring free agents to the club.Bola is in the last 12 months of the three-year deal he signed in 2021 when he arrived from Arsenal under the previous management regime.

Since then, he has made only three starts and eight substitute appearances in the league.

There have been 11 further outings in cup competitions.

Bola, who had an unsuccessful spell at League Two Bradford City last term, performed well during pre-season friendlies but has seen less than half an hour of Championship action since the new campaign began.

“He had a good pre-season and, from what I can gather, it's the first time he's been fit for a consistent period of time,” Taylor said. “It's just that no-one was willing to take him on loan and give him a chance to play some games.”