Liam Kelly's chances of being fit for Rotherham United this Saturday against Reading

The 34-year-old has missed the Millers’ last four matches but isn't too far away from being available and manager Steve Evans says the summer signing has a 50:50 chance of making the squad for Saturday's League One visit of Reading.

The midfielder tested his troublesome area the day before last Saturday's trip to Shrewsbury Town but wasn't quite ready for a comeback then.

Speaking after the 1-1 draw at Croud Meadow, Evans told the Advertiser: “We'll see if we can step him up next week.”

When asked if there was a prospect of the former Coventry City man facing the Royals, the boss replied: “Yeah, I hope so. He's a player we want fit, a player our supporters want to see.”

Kelly increased his training workload last Friday but felt a reaction and the Millers omitted him from the party that travelled to Shrewsbury.

“He knows his body, he's a very experienced player,” Evans said. “He said he was ready to step things up so we stepped him up a little bit and there were still a few little niggles there.

“Immediately, I said ‘No’ and made the decision not to involve him at the weekend.”

Kelly also sat out Tuesday's match at Cambridge United, with Evans adopting a safety-first policy and criticising previous managerial regimes that he claims brought back players from injury too quickly.

“I'm not doing what was done here for the last two years because it was absolutely disgusting,” he said.