How Christmas Day looks for Rotherham United's Jamal Baptiste

The London-born centre-half has loved ones travelling north to spend some of the festive season with him at his Sheffield home and a traditional meal will be part of their celebrations.

But the former West Ham United defender, who turned 22 last month, will go easy on the amount he consumes, with the Millers' December 26 League One trip to high-flying Bolton Wanderers in mind.

“I'll just spend the day with family,” he said. “Obviously, I can't eat too much because we've got a big game on Boxing Day.”

Rotherham are on a run of four games in 12 days as they bid to return to their form of a month ago when they climbed towards the third tier's top 10.

Yuletide excess is out of the question for the loan man who has impressed, despite missing several weeks with a hamstring-tendon injury, since his summer switch from Championship neighbours Sheffield United.

But that's no problem to a player enjoying his first sustained spell of senior football after playing for the Hammers in the Europa League as a teenager four years ago.

“It's not the worst thing,” he said. “It's just another day, another week – just keep ticking off the games.”

Baptiste was just starting to find his best form when he picked up his injury on the training ground and was forced to sit out all of November and the early part of December.

He's been back in the squad for the last three matches and, after making his return as a substitute against Blackpool, has started the two most recent games, against Plymouth Argyle and Huddersfield Town.

“It was frustrating,” he said. “The injury didn't come out at the best time, but these things happen. I did my rehab properly because I wanted to come back as good as I was when I left. I feel like I've done that.

“I was meant to be back a week, maybe two, before I did return, but I'd rather come back 100 per cent fit than 95 per cent fit. I'm glad I did that now I think I maybe had a rocky start to my loan, coming into this league for the first time. I feel like I've overcome it and I just want to keep learning and getting better. I feel like I'm on an upward curve.

“The coaches have definitely helped me. The more games I get under my belt, the better I'll get. It's been a good challenge going from academy football to games that mean something to the fans, to the players.”

Meanwhile, the loanee hasn't had to totally give up on a bumper feed with all the trimmings.

On December 16, first-team chef Gavin Bradbury cooked up a feast at the club's Roundwood HQ after training.

“We had our Christmas dinner then," Baptiste said. "It was lovely – all of the players and staff got together and just ate.”

Now he's hoping that a point or three at Bolton is on the menu.