The Captain's Column ... Richard Wood picks his best Rotherham United performer this season, reveals the player to avoid in training and wonders whether he should have made it to the Premier League

IF I was voting for Rotherham United's Player of the Year right now I'd go for Ollie Rathbone or Viktor Johansson.

Our dynamic midfielder and Swedish goalkeeper have been the stand-out performers for us in the Championship.

Viktor shouldn't take it personally when I say I hope it's Ollie I'm plumping for at the end of the season.

It's just that if our keeper wins the award it means we've had too much defending to do!

The stats say Viktor is the best performer between the sticks in the entire second tier this term and I'm not going to argue with that.

He hasn't actually had a lot to do in the last few matches but there have been times in the campaign when his unbelievable saves have kept us in games. He's a class act and deserves his new contract.

Viktor is a good presence behind the backline. He's loud. When you're playing you can hear him shouting in his broken English!

He comes for everything and I like that. As a centre-half, I want my keeper to be decisive and aggressive.

JOSH Kayode has returned to us in sad circumstances but it's good that he's back among familiar faces at Roundwood.

The young centre-forward has had surgery after damaging his quad while on loan at MK Dons and will be undergoing his recovery at our training base.

It's better that he does his rehab up here rather than stay with the Dons for treatment down there. We're his parent club and this is where he belongs. I'll be putting my arm around him and having regular chats with him.

I rate 'JJ' highly. He's injured for now but he has a great career in front of him.

I'LL tell you something: Hakeem Odoffin isn't bad in a 50:50!

Haks endured a frustrating first year and a bit after moving south of the border from Hamilton Academical to join us 2021.

He couldn't establish himself in the side in our League One promotion push but has really found his feet in the Championship since the new manager came in in October.

It's nice to see our midfielder finally getting a run in the team. That's what you need as a player because regular football gives you confidence and rhythm. You can't just be playing the odd game here and there.

Haks is a really good fella — quiet but well-spoken and very genuine — and I'm pleased for him.

Physically, he is very impressive. He can get around the pitch and he is one strong boy.

You know when you've been in a tackle with him. You just don't need hitting that hard in training sometimes!

I TURN 38 later this year and I might just have to concede that I've missed my chance to be a Premier League player!

I would have loved to have made it to the top flight and it was my dream as a kid when I was coming through the youth ranks at Sheffield Wednesday.

Looking back, though, I'm happy with what I've done. I have no regrets about anything.

I have given my all in every one of the 650-plus matches in which I've played and I've spent many years at Championship level.

Was I ever good enough to play in the best division of all? I don't know. There was a spell in my Wednesday days when some people said I was. I don't stress over it not happening.

The average career of a pro footballer is eight years and I'm in my 19th season. I can't complain. I've done all right.

One player who just might reach the Prem is our old boy, Dan Barlaser.

He's just moved to Middlesbrough who are flying in the second tier and have moved up to third spot. Twelve wins in their last 14 league matches have seen them make up a lot of ground on second-placed Sheffield United.

Last Saturday was Dan's first Boro start and — big shock — he set up a goal for Chuba Akpom.

I got in touch with him and said: 'Lovely assist, I'm missing that!' He was putting the ball on a plate for me when I had that scoring purple patch earlier in the season.

He'll flourish on Teesside. Michael Carrick is the perfect manager for him: a similar sort of passing midfielder who played for Manchester United and England. Dan can look up to him and learn from him.