Rotherham United man set for more surgery
MISSING man Josh Kayode is facing his second operation of the season as Rotherham United seek a remedy to the centre-forward's latest injury.
The striker has managed only three appearances in the opening stages of the 2025/26 campaign and hasn't played since sustaining a knock to his knee against Stockport County on September 20.
The Millers had been hoping to resolve the issue without the intervention of a surgeon but now accept that an op is the best way forward.
“It's not really settled down as well as we'd have liked,” manager Matt Hamshaw said. “Josh might have to go in and have a little tidy-up again.”
Kayode, who signed a new one-year deal in the summer to take his stay with the club to a decade, had surgery on a different knee complaint in the summer and had to sit out the first month of League One proceedings.
The 25-year-old has suffered a variety of ailments over the last three years and has spent long spells in the treatment room with the Millers and during loans at MK Dons, Carlisle United and Shrewsbury Town.
“We're hoping that when it's done, it should be two to three weeks before he's back,” Hamshaw said. “But, look, I'm no surgeon, so we'll wait and see.”
Meanwhile, Rotherham head to Luton Town this weekend seeking to extend the best run of form of any side in League One.
Despite a long list of injuries in their centre-half department, Millers have won four and drawn two of their last six third-tier fixtures, and now they come up against a team going well under new boss Jack Wilshere.
“It's good that we've had this week to reset, with no midweek game,” Hamshaw said. “We've had it tough with injuries, but I've always said that injuries are no excuse and that it's next man up. The players who have come in have done extremely well.
“Luton have an amazing squad, they've got a good manager and they've got the financial benefits of having been in the Premier League recently (2023/24).
“It's a game we're looking forward to. It'll be a really good test for us. We've prepared as we usually prepare, we'll give it everything we've got and hopefully that can be good enough.”
Rotherham have been drawn away to League Two Salford City in the first knockout stage the Vertu Trophy. A date for the tie has yet to be set.
The two clubs did battle in the first round of the Carabao Cup in August at the Peninsula Stadium where Hamshaw’s men went through in a penalty shoot-out following a 0-0 draw.