Hakeem Odoffin and another Rotherham United injury, and why the Millers are low on energy early in the new campaign

HAKEEM Odoffin will be assessed by Rotherham United's medical staff tomorrow morning after limping out of the Championship clash against Sunderland.

The midfielder put the Millers in front at the Stadium of Light in the 20th minute yesterday with his second goal in two matches but by the half-hour mark he was watching events from the dugout.

"It's a muscle injury," said manager Matt Taylor following the 2-1 defeat that left his side in 21st spot. "We keep on picking up these problems. It's too soon to say how long Haks will be out for."

Odoffin joins a casualty list that includes Lee Peltier, Grant Hall, Georgie Kelly, Ben Wiles, Jamie Lindsay and Shane Ferguson.

Taylor would love to see his side reinforced by some of the wounded returning sooner rather than later and further signings arriving before the close of the transfer window a week on Friday.

The boss says some of his players are already fatigued only three league games and a cup tie into the new season because of the lack of numbers and the fact that Rotherham have been forced to play part of two games a man down because of dismissals.

"The squad are out on their feet," he said. "Some of them are playing on empty. I can't do much more in terms of strengthening it immediately. We need bodies back and we need some help (new blood)."

The Millers are at home to high-flying Leicester City next Saturday and will be low on depth again, although the availability of winger Fred Onyedinma after a one-match ban is a boost.

"You want all the bodies to come back," Taylor said. "Are any on the horizon? I'm not too sure. Are we closer in terms of recruitment? I'm not too sure at the moment but we'll keep on working as hard as we can."