Progress report on injured Rotherham United youngster Hamish Douglas
ROTHERHAM United are targeting a February comeback for the young centre-half who has made his first-team breakthrough this season.
Hamish Douglas is a regular starter for the Millers when he's fit but he has been blighted by a series of injuries.
The 20-year-old, who came through the club's youth ranks, is sidelined by an Achilles problem and hasn't played for nearly a month.
Happily, he is on the mend and isn't far away from adding to his 13 appearances.
“He's rehabilitated really well,” said manager Matt Hamshaw. “He's a young kid and desperate to get back in.
“We have to manage his injury because it's his Achilles and you just have to be careful with those. He's showing positive signs, so we're hopeful he'll be playing again in the not too distant future.”
The boss says the defender is further along the recovery route than midfielder Josh Benson (calf) who he hopes to see back before the end of next month.
“Hamish is closer,” he confirmed.
Both men will be missing when Rotherham do League One battle with AFC Wimbledon at AESSEAL New York Stadium tomorrow.
The game against the 17th-placed Dons is a crucial one as the Millers need to start picking up results following a seven-match third-tier losing streak that has left them five points from safety.
They were boosted by their second-half display at promotion contenders Stockport County last weekend when, with a number of injured players back in action and introduced as half-time substitutes, they came close to earning a draw in a 3-2 loss.
They have more men leaving the treatment for the Wimbledon contest - plus loan striker Harry Gray ready to make a home debut - and Hamshaw has noticed a lift in spirits at the club's Roundwood base.
“I feel that the mood in the camp is different,” the boss said. “I feel that players returning has made a big impact. I know it's only one player we've signed in Harry, but I think there's a fresher look to the team and I think there's a positive change.”
Rotherham have a trio of matches coming up which will be pivotal in their fight against relegation - the Wimbledon game, Tuesday's home date with Northampton Town and then the long January 31 trip to Exeter City.
“I get that at the minute it's hard,” Hamshaw said. “I'm hurting, the fans are hurting. I know the wins will come. I've felt it this week in training, I felt it towards the back end of last week.”
The Millers must plug a leaky defence, having let in 17 goals in their last six outings, and they are closing in on a permanent deal for Norwich City centre-back Emmanuel Adegboyega as the January transfer window approaches its final week.
“At the minute, we're conceding too many goals, and you can't win games doing that,” Hamshaw said.
“We've got three big games, two of them on our own turf. We need to bring what we brought in that second half at Stockport.”