Out with the paintbrush when the lads were playing at Blackpool

IT felt so weird.

I was decorating my son’s bedroom when every part of me wanted to be with the lads at Blackpool.

Not making the squad for the trip to Bloomfield Road had left me with a rare blank Saturday.

In the morning, I drove Graye to his under-12s training at Sheffield United. I wouldn’t normally do that — his mum would be behind the wheel — and we said to each other on the drive in that we didn’t like it.

A few parents were asking me when we arrived: ‘What are you doing here?’

It was strange having the day off. I went shopping for groceries and then gave Graye’s bedroom a lick of paint. Because I was decorating, I had the radio on but, as much as I tried, I couldn’t tune in to the Millers commentary and ended up listening to the scores come in on talkSPORT. I was pleased we got something from a difficult trip.

Until last weekend, it had been a long time since I hadn’t travelled with the squad when I’d been fit. The last occasion was back in 2016 when Alan Stubbs was in charge.

Obviously, it’s tough not being involved.

POOR old Josh Kayode.

It’s been one thing after another for our young striker since the summer.

I texted him to offer my support as soon as I found out about the quad injury that has required surgery.

He’s had rotten luck. He was going well in pre-season with us when he tore his hamstring and couldn’t fight for a first-team place, then he had knee trouble when he first went on loan to MK Dons and now this.

His season is over and he’ll just have to write this year off and focus on his recovery. I had to do the same once early in my career so I know what he’s going through.

It’s such a shame. You go out on loan to get games and it just hasn’t happened for him. He’d been close to a comeback with MK when he suffered his latest blow.

Next summer is a big opportunity for him: a new chance here under a new manager who will be able to see what he’s all about in training.

‘JJ’ is a real prospect. Hopefully he’ll have a good pre-season and can take things from there.

I’D like to offer a belated welcome to the last of our seven transfer-window signings, Domingos Quina.

He is so good on the ball! He’s tricky and skilful and in training the other day during a little game we were having he put one in the top corner out of nothing.

Sadly, he's suffered a knee injury and we won't see him in action again for a while.

He’s a laid-back character and a nice guy. I’m ooking forward to seeing what he can do for us when he comes back.