Is it surgery for Rotherham United's Tyler Blackett? Boss Matt Taylor gives an update

Rotherham United centre-half Tyler Blackett plays for Rotherham United against Bristol City before suffering hamstring damage late on at AESSEAL New York Stadium. Picture: Jim Brailsford

ROTHERHAM United are bracing themselves for the devastating loss of a second central defender until the New Year.

Tyler Blackett's hamstring injury is so severe that he is poised to be ruled out of the club's Championship survival push for several months.

The Millers were already without Cameron Humphreys when the centre-half limped out of the home defeat to Bristol City eight days ago after pulling up in the closing minutes of the contest.

“Tyler will see a specialist and more than likely will have surgery to repair his hamstring,” manager Matt Taylor told the Advertiser.

He described the unavailability of the 29-year-old, who had played more first-team minutes than any other player this season, as “a monstrous blow”.

Blackett tore his muscle less than a fortnight after Humphreys, his partner at the heart of the backline, had suffered the same fate in a draw with Preston North End at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

It leaves Rotherham without their regular centre-back pairing for a prolonged period while they try to climb out of the drop zone.

“The injury is like Cam's,” Taylor said. “We've lost another big player. Tyler has been so, so good for us this season.”

Blackett had become a mainstay of the side since signing a one-year contract in the summer and he'd scored his first Millers goal against the Robins before being forced from the field.

Taylor's 23rd-placed side are without a match this weekend because of the international break and return to action a week tomorrow in a Friday-night clash with second-placed Ipswich Town at New York.

Rotherham have been down on numbers because of injuries throughout the campaign and have often been unable to name a full bench but they could have two players back in their ranks for the visit of the Tractor Boys.

Centre-half Sean Morrison (calf) and midfielder Hakeem Odoffin (hamstring) are due to return to full training next week while a second midfield man, Jamie Lindsay (achilles) isn't far behind them.

Winger Shane Ferguson (hernia) is back on the grass but not yet close to being available.

“It will be good to have a couple more players back,” Taylor said. “Then we've got to find a way to keep them fit.”

Following last Saturday's heroic fightback for a 1-1 draw at Southampton the boss gave his players a week off and the squad will come together again at their Roundwood training complex on Sunday.