Matt Hamshaw on the Ciaran McGuckin situation as Rotherham United battle against an injury crisis
ROTHERHAM United are resisting the temptation to recall young attacker Ciaran McGuckin from his non-league loan spell even though their frontline has been virtually wiped out by injuries.
The Millers head to Reading on Saturday and Jordan Hugill is the only senior centre-forward with any chance of making the League One contest.
Twenty-one-year-old McGuckin, who signed a new one-deal in the summer, has been hitting the target since moving to National League Eastleigh in early October.
Manager Matt Hamshaw hasn't dismissed the idea of bringing him back to AESSEAL New York Stadium at some stage but, for now at least, isn't planning to summon the former Northern Ireland youth international.
“We're leaving him where he is at the moment,” the boss said. “He's playing games. However, nothing's out of the question.”
McGuckin – who did well in two National League loans with Yeovil Town last term – made five appearances for the Millers before an early-October switch to Eastleigh for whom he has scored three goals in seven matches. He is due to remain in Hampshire until January.
Rotherham are without the striker services of Sam Nombe (quad), Martin Sherif (hamstring), Kion Etete (quad) and Josh Kayode (knee) and none of them will be available in the next few weeks.
Hugill has a rolled ankle but hasn't given up on making this weekend's clash at the Select Car Leasing Stadium where the 11th-placed visitors will see stretch their unbeaten third-tier sequence to eight games against opposition who are in 18th spot.
The Millers were 23rd at one point and, considering their injury issues, have pulled off an amazing rise up the table to move within sight of play-off contention.
They have been soldiering on with no recognised senior centre-halves in the absence of Thomas Holmes, Zak Jules, Jamal Baptiste, Sean Raggett and Lenny Agbaire and now have their problems up front to contend with as well.
“During this run, people might have been worried about not having X, Y and Z players available, but I'm fully confident in my squad,” Hamshaw said.
“I think we need to revamp it in the January transfer window. However, you can't fault the team for what they're doing at the minute.
“I think they've been galvanised by the adversity of it all. We've got a couple of tough games coming up, then we have a little bit of a break (December 6 weekend), which I think we need, if I'm going to be honest. It will let us freshen players up.
“I've spoken a lot about a reset and an upward trajectory and I think we've come a long way in a short period.
“It's just a shame, obviously, that we've got these injuries because I feel that we'd be a really good team, attacking and defensively, with a full complement of players.”