Rotherham United and the plan for fit-again youngster Ben Hatton
YOUNG forward Ben Hatton may be heading away from Rotherham United after finally making his comeback from a long-term injury.
The 20-year-old academy product came on as a substitute in last Tuesday's Vertu Trophy Round of 16 loss at Huddersfield Town for his first senior outing since a summer hamstring problem.
Manager Matt Hamshaw is delighted to see the attacker back in action but is unable to guarantee him a place in his matchday 18 and could send him elsewhere to gain experience.
“He needs to play some games, I'm not too sure we can give him those games,” the boss said. “A loan might be a possibility for him moving forward.”
Hatton first tore his hamstring during a loan spell at non-league Warrington Town late last term. He then suffered the same injury to the same muscle in pre-season training in July just as he was about to complete his rehabilitation by playing for the youth team at Aston Villa.
The Millers activated an extension in his contract in June, soon after Hamshaw's appointment, and the player's deal at AESSEAL New York Stadium is due to expire at the end of this campaign.
He made three Championship appearances as a substitute late in the 2023/24 relegation season, followed that up last year with four Football League Trophy matches and one FA Cup game and has yet to open his goal account for the club.
Hamshaw used him as a 75th-minute replacement for Shaun McWilliams against Huddersfield earlier this week when the injury-hit Millers rested as many first-team men as possible and a shadow side fell to a 3-0 defeat.
“It was a tough night,” the manager said. “Look, Ben probably shouldn't have been thrown into this environment, if I'm going to be honest.”