Marvin Kaleta on brink of Rotherham United comeback
ROTHERHAM United are set to be boosted by the return of Marvin Kaleta when they seek to extend their unbeaten League One run on Saturday.
Victory over high-flying Lincoln City could see the Millers climb from 12th spot into the top ten and would stretch their third-tier sequence without a loss to six matches.
Attacker Kaleta hasn't featured since suffering a hamstring injury at Mansfield Town on September 27 but has returned to training and is in the frame to make the matchday 18 for the clash at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
“Yeah, there's a good chance he might be involved this weekend,” manager Matt Hamshaw told the Advertiser this afternoon. “His availability is massive for us.”
Kaleta joined the club in the summer from Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers and impressed in spells with his pace and directness during his first 11 outings.
Rotherham have been climbing the table despite suffering yet again from a crowded treatment room.
There is more welcome news on the comeback front as loan centre-half Thomas Holmes was out on the grass at the club's Roundwood base this morning for the first time following the knee problem he picked up on his early-September debut.
The 25-year-old Luton Town man could be in the selection frame for the November 22 trip to Reading where he made his breakthrough as a youngster.
“The more players we can get back, the better,” Hamshaw said. “Things are moving positively. I can't dress it up, we need everybody in the trenches.”
Saturday's fixture will be Rotherham's fourth match in 12 days and they face a Lincoln side who are in the play-off reckoning and have two experienced players – striker James Collins and centre-back Sonny Bradley – whom the Millers boss knows well from his time as a coach at Derby County.
“Four games in a really close proximity always asks questions of your squad,” Hamshaw said. “I'm a big fan of Lincoln's, I think they're well organised.
“I love James Collins and Sonny Bradley. They're great lads and they'll be bang at it. Lincoln have had a midweek rest and, obviously, we haven't (2-2 Tuesday draw with Burton Albion). But we'll be ready to go.”
Meanwhile, Rotherham will know for certain by the end of this weekend whether their league game at Luton – due to be played a week on Saturday at Kenilworth Road – is on.
Either side could request a postponement if they have three or more players called up for international duty. So far, both clubs have one call each and the deadline for a 'game off' request is 5pm on Sunday.
Rotherham forward Ar'Jany Martha will be away with Curacao while Luton midfielder George Saville will be part of Northern Ireland's squad.
The Millers had been anticipating central defender Lenny Agbaire being summoned by Scotland Under-21s and wing-back Denzel Hall earning his first Jamaica recognition but, so far, there have been no developments on either front.
“Lenny's not been called up as of yet,” Hamshaw said. “Whether that changes, I don't know. Obviously he's back to fitness now (after a groin issue). I think Scotland will have been just waiting to see about his availability. I understand why they haven't put him in their squad at the minute.
“With Denzel, I've not heard anything. We've been in contact with ((Jamaica boss) Steve McLaren but have had no clarification yet. We're working on the assumption that the Luton game is on.”