An arm around the shoulder for "gutted" Rotherham United missing man Sam Nombe

The club's seven-figure record signing is a key man for the League One Millers but is out of action for the next few weeks with a quad problem after missing two months because of a hamstring tear earlier in the campaign.

The latest blow has left the 27-year-old reeling and Hamshaw, who suffered from injuries himself during his player career, has stepped in to try to lighten the attacker's mood.

“Sam and I have got a really good relationship – I've got a good relationship with the majority of players here – and I know how disappointed he is,” the boss said.

”I've had to pick him up these last few days. That's important. I understand it because he's desperate to do well for the club, he's desperate to score goals.”

Nombe has been a prolific goal-getter since Hamshaw's late-March arrival, hitting the target nine times in 16 outings.

He damaged his quad in training before last weekend's 0-0 draw at Luton and is bidding to make a pre-Christmas return and quickly rejoin his teammates who have climbed to 11th spot on the back of a seven-match unbeaten third-tier run.

Talking of the player's frustration, his manager added: “I think he sees the way the side's playing and he knows that he's getting ammunition.

“You've seen what a big impact he makes when he's on the pitch. I don't just mean attacking-wise – defensively he works as hard as anybody for the team.

“He drives standards in training, and he's gutted to be out. I had a lot of that in my playing career. I know where he's coming from. We speak a lot. I know he'll come back better and I know that when he comes back he'll score goals again.”

Rotherham are down to the bare bones up front and are desperately hoping that Jordan Hugill overcomes a swollen ankle to make the starting line-up at Reading tomorrow as four other senior centre-forwards are unavailable.

Despite their lack of numbers in attack and also at the back, where four centre-halves remain sidelined for now, the Millers boarded the team bus for Reading today feeling ready to add to their points tally.

“Confidence comes through results, confidence comes through performances,” Hamshaw said. “I think you've seen the confidence, you've seen the togetherness, you've seen what we're trying to develop as a club.

“Fans want to see hard work, they want to see graft, they want to see determination, they want to see people who represent the badge Supporters can deal with a bit of a lack of quality at times if players are trying to do the right thing. I think the team is trying to do the right thing at the minute.

“I think the group believes in what we're trying to do. The lads are buying into the things that we're working on on the training ground.”