First-team return date pencilled in for Rotherham United youngster George Sebine
The centre-forward has been receiving treatment away from the Millers
Alex Bruce can't wait to have George Sebine at his disposal as he bids to lead Rotherham United away from the lower reaches of League Two.
The young loan attacker is closing in on a comeback after sitting out the last six matches with a calf injury.
He is due to return to the 20th-placed Millers after the weekend following a few weeks of treatment at parent club Huddersfield Town and could be playing again by the end of the month.
"Hopefully he'll be with us on Monday," said boss Bruce. "I'm really looking forward to having George back, as you can imagine. He'll give us something totally different at the top end of the pitch. When you've got your best players available, it always makes things a bit easier."
The 19-year-old showed a turn of pace and the ability to get behind defences in two substitute appearances before reporting soreness in the wake of the 3-3 home draw with Salford City on September 12.
Rotherham are planning to bring him up to speed in group training before naming him in their matchday 18. That means next Tuesday's visit of Newport County and the following Saturday's AESSEAL New York Stadium clash with Shrewsbury Town are likely to come too soon for him.
"Being ready for Shrewsbury would be a tough one," Bruce conceded.
The October 31 trip to Swindon Town has been pencilled in as a potential comeback date.
Sessions at Roundwood have been feisty this week as the Millers prepare for the match at Fleetwood Town tomorrow when they will seek to put a run of three successive defeats behind them.
"It's absolutely what I like," said Bruce yesterday afternoon. "If you train as you play, games become easier, and that's what I want to try to create.
"Training was good today and my message to the players was: 'Any chance you can play like that on Saturday? Because if you do that at Fleetwood we'll be okay.'"
Meanwhile, the Millers' under-18 side have been drawn away to Stockport County in the first round of the FA Youth Cup. Eighty teams are involved and ties have to be played by the end of this month.