Rotherham United wait on Josh Kayode op results, and Matt Hamshaw on Kion Etete's future

The striker is due for medical intervention after damaging the joint in September against Stockport County and the Millers won't discover the exact extent of the problem until the procedure takes place.

“Josh should hopefully have his op next Tuesday,” manager Matt Hamshaw said. “His return date depends on the severity of the injury,

“I wouldn't like to put a number of weeks on it, but I'm hoping it won't be long. We won't know until we've actually found out what's going on.”

The academy product signed a new one-contract deal in the summer to extend his stay at AESSEAL New York Stadium, with Rotherham incentivising the deal in light of his poor fitness record so that the more he plays, the more he earns.

The 25-year-old required minor surgery on a knee issue in the summer and had been restricted to three appearances so far this term.

Meanwhile, Hamshaw is keeping his cards close to his chest over the Millers future of another centre-forward, Kion Etete.

The Cardiff City man is due to spend the season on loan in S60 but has a severe quad injury that is set to rule him out until the new year.

When asked if there was a possibility that the 23-year-old may go back to his parent club in the next transfer window, Hamshaw said: “There'll be questions that I'll probably answer in January.

“At this point, Kion's here. We're, obviously, trying to get him back as quickly and as safely as we can.”

Etete, who has had a chequered time with injuries at Cardiff, showed flashes of real danger during nine Rotherham outings before being forced into the treatment room for a third time this term.

The Millers head to Reading tomorrow when they will seek to extend their unbeaten third-tier run to eight matches despite being caught in the grip of a striker shortage.

Sam Nombe, Martin Sherif, Etete and Kayode are all unavailable and there is a major doubt over Jordan Hugill who rolled an ankle in last weekend's 0-0 draw at Luton Town.

Hamshaw admitted he will have to think creatively as he finalises his team and tactics at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

“It's not easy and I'll not know until Saturday at five o'clock if I've got it right or wrong,” he said. ”But we have a plan, we have a way of working.

“Every game is different. We have certain things that underpin us that will always be there, but there will be certain times in different games where we have to adapt to stop the opposition.

“I think that's one thing the group is really getting better at. It can take some ‘buying in’. I think the beauty of the players I've got is that they all understand each other's roles.

“You've seen Joe Powell play left wing-back, you've seen Jordan Hugill play centre-half, you've seen a number of players play out of position.

“With the work we've done pre-season, the work we've done at the training ground, they understand what it is we need in an out of possession.”