Matt Hamshaw takes steps to help young loan duo get more out of their time with Rotherham United

The pair arrived on deadline day of the January transfer window from Manchester United and Aston Villa respectively and have struggled for match action as the Millers fight to safeguard their League One status.

Hamshaw acknowledges that both players are disappointed not to be playing more as they seek to build up their senior experience between now and the end of the season.

“It's been tough for them,” the boss said. “I speak to my players regularly anyway, I've spoken to those two in particular. I know they're a little bit frustrated with the game time.

“Loans can be good for younger players. They're seeing what real football looks like - men's football, not under-21s football. They've both showed signs in training, but they have to be more consistent in training to make sure they get an opportunity.

“When you get an opportunity, you have to make a big impact in a short period of time. That's what I'm looking for them to do.”

Striker Biancheri is 19 and has made five appearances in the second half from the bench and wing-back Sousa, aged 22, has featured even less, playing three times as a late substitute.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the age scale is another player who moved to S60 in the final hours of the new-year window, Duncan Watmore.

The attacker, who turned 32 on Sunday, ended nine months as a free agent by signing a contract until the close of the campaign and has had an immediate impact.

“He's had massive influence, he's been excellent in the short period we've had him,” Hamshaw said of the forward he had been tracking for weeks before a deal was struck. "We've seen elements where the opposition can't live with him.”

Watmore has made three starts and been used as a substitute on four occasions, showing the class that has seen him spend much of his career in the top flight and Championship with Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Millwall.

He has had injury issues in the past and can't yet manage full matches, so the Millers are being mindful not to ask too much of him as they try to bring him up to speed without him breaking down.

“He knows his body really well and understands our approach, even though he's desperate he is to play every minute of every game,” Hamshaw said. ”We've got to make sure that we manage him because he is a big player.

“A fit Duncan Watmore gets in every Rotherham United team from now until the end of the season. But we've got to make sure he's fit and right to go.”

Watmore’s presence is being felt off the pitch as well as on it.

“He's also big in the changing room,” his manager said. “He's had a huge influence, I think, on the younger players, which is important - hence why we wanted to bring him in. You know how long we chased him for. He's everything that you'd want as a bloke and a pro.”