Here comes January ... and Rotherham United boss Matt Hamshaw would love an early centre-forward deal
ROTHERHAM United head into the new-year transfer window expecting player arrivals and departures as they seek to get their League One campaign back on track.
Millers boss Matt Hamshaw's top priority is to strengthen his frontline and he is desperate to bring in a new frontman as soon as possible in January.
“If it's the right business, we'll try to do it early,” he said.
Teenage loan frontman Martin Sherif returned to parent club Everton today, freeing up room and some money for wages for an attacking recruit.
Rotherham - who have slipped into the drop zone after being close to the play-off reckoning at the beginning of December - are operating on a smaller budget than the one afforded previous boss Steve Evans last season and any incomings up front and in other positions are likely to be on loan deals.
The Advertiser understands that the Millers' playing budget is the 15th highest in the division.
An injury list that has often run into double figures and has included some key performers has prevented Hamshaw from ever fielding his best team.
Rotherham avoided paying any transfer fees as they made 13 summer signings, although money is due on a couple of them if they reach a certain number of appearances.
The window could see some men who have been struggling to break into the starting 11 leave in search of more regular football.
Hamshaw said: “I've spoken to all of the players and said: ‘Look, if you feel like you're not getting the minutes, if you feel like you need to go and play games, come and speak to me and we'll see if we can get to a resolution.’
“I'm not going to say that there's 100 per cent definitely going to be ins and outs, but the high likelihood is that both will happen.”
Following his March appointment, the manager is nine months into his mission to 'reset' the club and January will be his second window in charge.
Five successive December defeats has intensified the need for new blood, following an unbeaten run of nine third-tier matches through October and November when the Millers made up for a faltering start to the campaign.
“I knew when I took this job what was needed,” Hamshaw said. “I knew it was going to take a while. I said that when we were losing, I said that when we were winning, I still stand by it.
“There are a lot of things that are out of my control at this club that I'm getting in control of. There are a lot of things that have happened.
“I don't want to go over previous things. However, I'm dealing with a lot of things from the past. That isn't an excuse, it's just the truth of it.”