Josh Benson blow for Rotherham United but manager 'hopeful' of a return for Sam Nombe
STRIKER Sam Nombe is inching towards a return to action for Rotherham United but midfielder Josh Benson is facing a long spell on the sidelines as the club’s injury headaches continue.
Benson limped out of last week’s home defeat to Blackpool and also sat out last Saturday’s loss at Plymouth Argyle.
He’s the sort of player the Millers need on board as they look to hit back from those setbacks when they host Huddersfield Town on Saturday. But manager Matt Hamshaw is resigned to losing the former Barnsley man over Christmas and most likely beyond.
"Josh has done his soleus muscle, just above his Achilles. It looks like it’s a bad one,” said the boss.
"He is going to be out for a long time and that’s disappointing. The lad has had injury problems recently, we knew that when we took him, but his best games for us have been in recent times. He gives us a bit of that creativity and we will lose that for a while.
"At the minute it’s our play in the final third that we need to improve.”
There is cautious optimism that marksman Nombe can return to help a Rotherham side which hasn’t scored in its last two matches. A quad issue has kept the marksman out since the Millers dismantled League One high-flyers Lincoln City early last month.
"We are just waiting and seeing,” said Hamshaw. “We are desperate to have him back.
"It has been the story of the season. We need players back and Sam Nombe is one of our best players. We are hopeful but at the same time I’m not going to take unnecessary risks that will cause problems further down the line. Things are positive-ish. A lot can change in a few days but we’re hopeful.”