Hakeem Odoffin on fighting back from the dark days earlier in his Rotherham United career

The stalemate on a March Tuesday night in Shropshire in 2022 was the only League One match the midfielder started for his new club.

The Millers were marching to the Championship and winning Papa Johns Trophy silverware at Wembley along the way yet the former Hamilton Academical man spent long periods watching from the bench.

Leave for game-time elsewhere? That was never an option for the London-born 24-year-old (right) who’d made a commitment to his employers at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

“Honestly, whenever I’m under contract all I’m thinking about is the club I’m at,” Odoffin said. “After last season, I still had two years left.

“It was never really on my mind about thinking about elsewhere. I think only about what I can do in training and on the pitch. That’s where my head is always at.”

The player’s patience has been rewarded and he has flourished under a new boss. There was no Championship action for him this term under the old managerial regime but he was in the team within a fortnight of Matt Taylor taking over in October.

Eleven starts in Rotherham’s last 12 second-tier fixtures represent a huge turnaround for a quietly-spoken, well-liked member of the Millers changing room. However, despite such an extended run of selection, he’s taking nothing for granted.

“Even now I don’t feel like anything’s a given,” he said. “I’m not being promised I’ll be in the starting 11 so any time that I am it’s about putting my best foot forward.

“The gaffer has shown trust in me and it’s about repaying that trust with performances. If I can keep doing that and we can get results because of it, then happy days.”

Taylor immediately warmed to the attitude shown in training by Odoffin who credits the “extras” he does at Roundwood with the manager and number two Wayne Carlisle for the three goals he has scored since the middle of January.

His game’s not pretty but can be pretty effective. A big, well-proportioned lad, he carries a physical presence in both boxes and between them.

Those dark days following his move south of the border never made him doubt himself as he threw himself into a common cause.

“Last year was a great group of boys,” he said. “That togetherness definitely pushed everyone on. Even though things weren’t going as well for me individually as I wanted them to we were still having success. Ultimately it’s about the team.

“It’s not easy when you’re not in the side but that’s how football works at times. It’s about trying to be a positive influence in the dressing room and then when that opportunity does come you have to be ready. If I’m sulking it will only hinder me.

“The support from the players helped. I don’t have a bad word to say about them or the previous management. It’s not like anyone dislikes you as a person if you’re not selected. I just kept trying my hardest in training and when I did play.”

Rotherham are partway through the international break before they return a week on Saturday at Hull City for the start of an eight-match run-in on which their second-tier survival fate hinges.

He never looked too far ahead last season and Odoffin is adopting the same policy as this one reaches its climax.

“How many points will it take to stay up?” I asked him.

“I think it’s going to take three points in the next game,” he grinned. “I’m always thinking only about the next game.”