Injured Rotherham United duo Ollie Rathbone and Lee Peltier have seen specialists. Here's the verdict ...

ROTHERHAM United hope to have key man Ollie Rathbone in their first-team fold for the majority of the Championship survival run-in.

The midfielder, who has been in outstanding form since the turn of the year, is nursing a groin issue that kept him out of last weekend’s victory over Queens Park Rangers and is likely to rule him of Saturday’s clash at Birmingham City.

However, a date with a specialist on Tuesday ruled out serious damage to the 26-year-old’s problem area.

“It’s relatively good news in that there’s nothing sinister there, nothing major,” said manager Matt Taylor. “There’s an issue in terms of the top of his femur (thigh bone) which is causing his some pain.

“It suggests a shorter time frame than weeks or months. This weekend might be a little bit too soon for him, then it’s a race against time for the following Tuesday (Preston North End) and Saturday (Cardiff City).”

The Millers aren’t planning any significant medical intervention and will bring back Rathbone once his soreness eases enough to allow him to play.

“His return will now be symptom-dependent,” Taylor said. “We don’t feel the need for an injection or any further course of action.”

Right-back/centre-half Lee Peltier, who has been playing through a hamstring niggle, also saw a specialist on Tuesday and could be available for the Birmingham contest.

“Pelts’ issue is settling down day by day. He won’t do anything on the grass until probably Friday. We’ll find out literally the day before the game where he’s at, the same as we’ve had to do with him for the last few weeks really.

“He’ll open up in a sprint on Friday to see if he’s available for Saturday. There’s barely any training for him, we’re just trying to get him through games.

“Like Ollie, there won’t be an injection. He has felt a lot better in the last couple of days.”

A calf complaint for Bailey Wright has added to Rotherham’s shortage of centre-halves, with Grant Hall and Sean Morrison already on the treatment table.

“That makes it even more important for Lee to get back available,” Taylor said.

Midfielder Conor Coventry missed training in the early part of the week because of suspected tonsillitis.

The Birmingham match is the start of a three-game week for the Millers who then have a fortnight with no fixture because of the international break.