Josh Kayode 'hammer blow' for Rotherham United

The depleted Millers have had six players in the treatment room as they gear for Championship opening day at the end of this month following their promotion from League One.

Twenty-two-year-old Kayode added to their woes by pulling up lame in this afternoon's 1-1 friendly draw at Mansfield Town four minutes after he's scored for the second match in a row.

"He's done his hamstring," manager Paul Warne confirmed. "He could be out for eight to ten weeks. 

"There's a difference between a tweak and a pull. If it's a grade-three pull it's a good couple of months."

Against the League Two Stags Rotherham were without centre-forward Tom Eaves, wing-backs Shane Ferguson, Wes Harding Tolaji Bola and Cohen Bramall and centre-half Jamie McCart because of a variety of ailments.

Also, their recruitment has slowed in the last fortnight, and that is adding to their shortage of players.

"I am concerned with the lack of numbers," said Warne who had to use academy players to pad out his squad at Field Mill. "I've said that after the last three pre-season games now.

"We need players. We not only need players, we need better players than what we've got. We don't need players to come in and support existing ones, we need them to replace them."

The rest of the group came through unscathed against Mansfield as Rotherham stretched their unbeaten summer run to five matches.

However, the injury to Kayode soured proceedings for the Millers boss who has already lost another frontman, Eaves, for the start of the campaign.

"The result is immaterial to me, results aren't what pre-seasons are about," Warne said. "The loss of Josh is a hammer blow. He's going to be out for a long period of time.

"We're down to two fit strikers (Georgie Kelly and Conor Washington) in the building."