Off-the-field role for injured Rotherham United man as he has operation
"We'll look after him. He's been a good servant."
Captain Joe Rafferty is undergoing surgery on the injury that is set to rule him out of the rest of Rotherham United's season.
Boss Alex Bruce confirmed to the Advertiser that the 33-year-old needs an operation to repair a thigh problem that wrecked his 500th career appearance late last month.
The head coach doesn't expect to see Rafferty on the pitch again in the 2026/27 campaign, but he will still find a role for the right-back as the 22nd-placed Millers seek to climb the League Two table.
"Yes, Joe's having an op," Bruce said. "I feel for him because, obviously, to get an injury and be at the age he's at ... I'm sure he's got things going on in his mind where he's thinking: 'What do I do now?'
"But he'll be fine. We'll look after him. He's been a good servant. We'll get him fixed and then we'll take it from there."
Bruce wants the former Portsmouth man, who is in his third year at AESSEAL New York Stadium, to remain a key figure in the dressing room while he goes through a rehabilitation process that has an estimated time frame of around six months.
"He's a good lad and his experience around the players is something that will help me," the boss said.
Rafferty has already been back at the club's Roundwood's training complex and he was a spectator at the Jersey Mike’s Trophy match against Newcastle United Under-21s three days after his October 31 misfortune.
The Liverpudlian, who has had an impressive fitness record since making his debut as a teenager with Rochdale, hurt himself as he tried to deliver cross against Swindon Town at the County Ground.
It ruined the milestone of his 500th match that he reached in his 15th season as a pro.
Meanwhile, another Rotherham player has had surgery and is beginning a recovery from a knee complaint that could take up to three months.
Jamie Jellis, aged 25, underwent a procedure to have his meniscus trimmed on November 4 and is now under the supervision of Millers medical staff.
Rotherham are without a match this weekend because they have three men on international duty and they are next in action a week on Saturday at Grimsby Town.