The state of play with Rotherham United new boy Domingos Quina

ROTHERHAM United held back deadline-day signing Domingos Quina rather than throw him into the cauldron of a South Yorkshire derby following his move from Spain.
Millers loanee Domingos QuinaMillers loanee Domingos Quina
Millers loanee Domingos Quina

The attacking midfielder was available for yesterday's Championship showdown with Sheffield United at a packed AESSEAL New York Stadium.

However, the Millers decided to play safe following a tumultuous week for their new boy who has only just recovered from a hamstring injury suffered while on loan from Watford at LaLiga side Elche.

"He's now fully fit," manager Matt Taylor said. "But there was a lot of travelling for him on Tuesday and Wednesday, plus he's had to acclimatise to our training pitches - he's come from Spain, where surfaces are a little bit firmer.

"There was no point signing him and putting him at risk on Saturday."

Quina, who cut short his Elche spell to join Rotherham until the end of the season, signed his New York loan deal while still in Spain on Tuesday's final day of the January transfer window.

The 23-year-old then flew to England to train with his new teammates for the first time on Thursday and is now in the frame for a debut next Saturday on the north-west coast.

"We wanted to have a full week building up to the Blackpool game," Taylor said. "He's a player who might affect the top end of the pitch for us as the season goes on."

The player's hamstring issue had kept him out of action for more than three weeks on the continent.

"It was a strain, not a tear," Taylor said. "He missed 20 days of training. He was due to have his first full session on Tuesday but he didn't train with Elche because the deal with us going through."

The 0-0 draw with the Blades was a full-blooded, frenetic affair and the boss was glad Rotherham had erred on the side of caution with Quina.

"You couldn't hide in that game, he said. "You had to be all in."