D-Day for Shaun McWilliams as he adds to Rotherham United's casualty count

The Millers are fearing the worst and hoping for the best over the midfielder who has been a regular starter as the club have climbed from next-to-bottom spot to within touching distance of the play-offs in the last seven weeks.

The 27-year-old failed to appear for the second half of the 1-1 draw at Reading because of a hamstring issue.

“I don't know,” said manager Matt Hamshaw when asked minutes after the final whistle whether McWilliams would be fit for the home clash with Wycombe Wanderers

“I said to you last week that we were hopeful of Martin Sherif being okay and then we lost him for a long time, so I'm being careful in what I say. Fingers crossed, it isn't as bad as we think it might be.”

Rotherham are one of the division's form teams but have a crowded treatment room, no fit strikers and can ill afford to lose any more players.

They do battle with Wycombe – who haven't tasted defeat in 11 matches – and then have a blank weekend as the second round of the FA Cup takes place.

“The break is going to come at a really good time for us,” Hamshaw said. “It means that, hopefully, Sam Nombe doesn't miss many games and that we can get some others back in the first-time frame.”

The Millers have been hit by a shortage of centre-halves but Jamal Baptiste and Sean Raggett are on course to be available for the clash with the Chairboys while Thomas Holmes made his long-awaited comeback last Saturday against his boyhood club.

“It's great, obviously, to have Holmesy back,” Hamshaw said. “He got a great reception from the Reading fans, which was nice for him.”

Rotherham have fought through their adversity and haven't lost a league encounter since they fell to a stoppage-time goal at Mansfield Town on September 27.

“This character, this desire, this togetherness, this team spirit, it can take you a long way,” Hamshaw said.