More to come from Christ Tiehi as Rotherham United new boy feels the love

The French-born midfielder joined Rotherham United only in the summer and this Saturday's match at home to high-flying Preston North End - providing he came through last night's Championship trip to Millwall unscathed - will be only his seventh for his new club.

Millers followers have quickly taken to the 25-year-old who looks to be a bargain buy from Czech side Slovan Liberic.

"Yes, I can feel how much the supporters appreciate me and it makes me feel very good,” he says. “I receive a lot of messages on Instagram and I really appreciate that. I do my best on the pitch to give back this love.”

His link with fans will be even stronger at the end of this month when he moves house from Manchester to Rotherham with his wife and young son.

Tiehi is speaking after the derby defeat at Huddersfield Town last Saturday. His grasp of English is pretty good but not as fluent as the movement and style of play that caught Rotherham's eye while he was playing on the continent and then on loan in this country for Wigan Athletic.

In August, the Millers paid a club-record fee for his services, their £400,000-plus outlay - more than doubled since by the arrival of Sam Nombe - exceeding the amount Freddie Ladapo had cost them four seasons ago.

Football is of more concern than finance to the Ivory Coast youth international who signed a three-year deal at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

“To be honest, the figures don't bother me,” Tiehi says. “How much I cost was nothing to do with me. That was a decision of the club. I'm grateful they've brought me here and happy that they believe in me. I feel like I have to do well, but I don't feel any extra pressure because of the fee.”

A protracted wait for a work permit left the player in limbo at the beginning of the campaign. The deal was agreed but he was sidelined for the six weeks it took to be confirmed and it's only now that he's getting up to speed.

“I think my start has been okay,” he says. “In the first game (Sunderland away) I was a little bit unfit because I hadn't played in the pre-season games. Physically, today was my top game. I know I can push myself to do better.”

On a poor afternoon in West Yorkshire Tiehi was Rotherham’s man of the match and looks a natural fit for the second tier in England.

“The level is very high,” he said. “I'm not sure people understand just how high it is. I've played in France and in the Czech Republic and the Championship is very different to that. If you can play well in the Championship you can play well anywhere. I'm really interested to see how much I can prove myself this season.”

So far, he's done just fine. A class act in any language.