Sean Raggett frustration as Rotherham United deal with dearth of centre-halves
ROTHERHAM United will go into battle this weekend without Sean Raggett after a delay in the defender's comeback from a quad injury.
The Millers are in the grip of a centre-half crisis and had initially been hoping that the 31-year-old, who has missed the last three matches, would be available for Saturday's League One trip to in-form Luton Town.
He hasn't responded to treatment in the way they would have liked, however, and is around a fortnight away from playing again.
Rotherham have no fit senior centre-backs and are fortunate that 20-year-old Hamish Douglas has done such a sterling job covering for the absence of the likes of Raggett, Zak Jules, Jamal Baptiste, Thomas Holmes and Lenny Agbaire.
“Sean has not recovered as quickly as we thought it would have,” manager Matt Hamshaw said. “It's going to take probably a couple of weeks longer than we thought.
“We're now looking at the Wycombe Wanderers game (November 29) for him. It's a bit frustrating, but it is what it is.”
Raggett had been back in the side for only three games after an earlier quad injury when he suffered the new problem in the win over Manchester City Under-21s in the Vertu Trophy.
Ninth-placed Luton are going well under new boss Jack Wilshere but will be facing a side who have the best recent record in the division.
The Millers, in 12th spot, have four wins and two draws from their last six third-tier outings, even though they have been struggling for defensive numbers.
Hamshaw praised the effect that youngster Douglas has had since stepping into the breach.
“He works so hard in training,” the boss said. “If you speak to any of the senior pros, they'll tell you that he works his nuts off. He's always first one in, last one away.
“I was laughing the other day because he was in the gym doing circuits when all his other stuff was finished. He's just doing everything he can to be the best version of himself.”
The club's Roundwood base has been a happy place this week following the latest victory – the 3-0 drubbing of play-off contenders Lincoln City last Saturday.
“The lads are all positive,” Hamshaw said. “But they've been positive all season, really. I don't think I've gone in on any day and they've been down in the dumps.
“They'll tell you that we're always trying to be positive with them, we're always trying to encourage them. The mood in the camp is really good and the players feel confident.”