Kian Spence and a new Rotherham United injury blow

KIAN Spence won't play again until next season after suffering yet another setback in his injury-hit first year with Rotherham United.

The midfielder has been beset by fitness issues since his arrival last summer and is now in the treatment room with the sixth problem of his time with the Millers.

He was on the verge of a derby comeback against Barnsley earlier this month after being out since February with a damaged calf but picked up a fresh complaint on the eve of the April 11 contest.

“He's got a new one,” manager Lee Clark said after last night's 2-0 home defeat against Luton Town. “He tweaked his thigh in training on the Friday, He was meant to be involved on the bench on the Saturday.

“We haven't had the results of the scan but, to all intents and purposes, he'll not play again this season.”

Spence joined Rotherham as a free agent following his exit from Barrow and has been restricted to 22 appearances in his debut campaign at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

He was plagued by foot blisters soon after signing and has also been laid low by hamstring and groin injuries, a calf issue and a recurrence of that calf problem.

The 25-year-old becomes the seventh player to recently have his season brought to a premature conclusion, following on from Cameron Dawson (shoulder), Joe Powell (hamstring), Hamish Douglas (calf), Liam Kelly (hamstring), Marvin Kaleta (hamstring) and Duncan Watmore (hip).

Rotherham had only 20 players available for the visit of Luton because of their huge casualty count and will be down on numbers for their final two matches, at home to Reading on Saturday and the trip to Wycombe Wanderers the following weekend.