Can Sean Morrison follow the same path as Tyler Blackett for Rotherham United?

Manager Matt Taylor's word, not mine.

The form of the defender has been below the high standards he has set throughout his long career and he has found himself making only one substitute appearance in the last four Championship matches after being taken off at half-time at Stoke City on opening day.

Taylor is tipping Morrison, who has been hit by injuries in the last two years, to get back to his best and points to the example of the skipper's fellow centre-half, Tyler Blackett, to back up his claim.

Blackett, like Morrison, had fitness issues last season after signing as a free agent in March, but he has gone on to become one of Rotherham's most impressive performers this term.

“I don't think anyone really saw what Tyler's all about until the last few weeks,” his manager said. “I think that's a fair assessment. He's gone to another level.

“That's only been possible because - I hate to swear - of the sh*t we've gone through for the last six months since he joined us - that's injuries, not enough training time, not enough game-time.

“Now we've got this new Tyler, the one we pictured when we signed him. It's going to be exactly the same with Sean.”

Morrison spent nearly a decade in the second tier and Premier League with Cardiff City before moving to the last January following a year on the sidelines because of cruciate-knee-ligament surgery.

He was an imposing figure at the back for two matches of the successful survival battle but was then hit by a quad injury that meant more surgery and another lengthy lay-off.

Taylor had seen enough to offer him a deal for this season and believes normal service from a player who has made up for his lack of league minutes with two starts in the Carabao Cup won't be long in coming.

“I think he's finally got 12 weeks' worth of training under his belt, which is something he's not had for a couple of seasons,” the boss said.

“If you look at those first 12 weeks solely on performance, you'd say it's not quite ‘there’ yet. However, he's got enough game-time now to start being himself.

“It's horrible: when you sign players, you do so knowing the start is going to be the hardest part and you almost have to break through a barrier, which takes a little bit of time.

“I had it with certain players when I was manager at Exeter City where some took six months, some took a year, some took two weeks.

“You never know how long it will take but when you do break through that barrier you've got something better than you saw previously."

With Morrison on the bench, Blackett and Cameron Humphreys have become an effective pairing at the heart of the rearguard.

The anticipated return to fitness of Grant Hall from a pre-season hamstring issue will increase the competition for places and Taylor is also seeking to bring in a free-agent centre-half to add to the battle.

The boss, whose side are back in action against Huddersfield Town at the John Smith’s Stadium this weekend after the international break, has no doubt that Morrison will soon force his way into the selection mix

“It's not quite happened as of yet but I'm still backing Sean 100 per cent,” he said. “We all know what he is capable of.

“I think he has enough confidence now in his foundation of match minutes, training and strength work to say: 'Right, now I'm here, now I'm going to be part of a successful team.' I'm sure we'll start seeing that."