Op concern over Conor Washington as depleted Rotherham United head into Sheffield United derby

The three-goal summer signing limped out of the weekend's home clash with Norwich City and is one of six Millers players missing for tonight's Championship South Yorkshire derby at Sheffield United.

"It's a knee/joint injury as opposed to a muscular injury," said manager Matt Taylor yesterday. "He's having a scan. 

"We are aware of some problems that Conor has had in the past in relation to that knee. 

"It sometimes flares up and it flared up quite dramatically on Saturday during that first half. We would expect to find out in the next couple of days if he requires surgery."

Fellow centre-half Georgie Kelly is also out of action and facing a considerable period on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring problem against the Canaries.

"First impressions are that it's quite serious," Taylor said. "To see him pull up in the manner he did would suggest a significant tear. It looks like he'll be out for a number of weeks."

The other four players unavailable this evening against the third-placed Blades are centre-halves Grant Hall (hamstring) and Jamie McCart (quad) and wing-backs Shane Ferguson (groin) and Tolaji Bola (quad).

Captain and central defender Richard Wood has recovered from hamstring tightness and is expected to be in the squad.

The Millers head to Bramall Lane in 17th spot as they play their penultimate fixture before the month-long international break.

They will come up against one of the most dangerous players in the second tier in attacking midfielder Iliman Ndiaye who has hit the target nine times this season and has scored in each of his last three games.

"He is one of many good players Sheffield United have," said Taylor

"We've got to have our wits about us. We have to defend well and see out individual moments of quality, which generally we've done away from home.

"I'm not looking for a defensive performance first and foremost. I can't keep asking this group of players to go out and defend for 90 minutes. It's not what I want, it's not what they want, it's not what our fans want.

"We have to go and attack the opposition and the positive signs from our attacking play in our recent away games have been there for the majority of people to see.

"After the match I want to be talking about our attacking players. We've not got many left but I want to be talking about them!"

Wing-back Cohen Bramall comes back into the reckoning for Rotherham after serving a one-match ban.