Speedy Rotherham United exit for Kyle Vassell
KYLE Vassell has said a quickfire goodbye to Rotherham United but the club aren't ruling out their old-boy striker returning to them to resume his trial.
The 33-year-old played one game for the Millers - scoring at Matlock Town last Saturday - but then went back to the PFA set-up that is showcasing free agents this summer.
The player wants to find an EFL club following his return from America and knows he can put himself in the shop window by playing in PFA friendly matches watched by scouts.
“It was his decision,” said head coach Alex Bruce. “The thing is with the PFA camps, the players - the free agents - they have to enrol and put themselves on. It gives them exposure as well for a lot of other clubs to see them. You have to be fair to free agents and let them do that.”
Rotherham hadn't decided whether to offer the forward a contract and wanted him to play in more of their games before coming to a conclusion.
Club and player - who spent two and a half seasons with Rotherham between 2018 and 2021 - will remain in contact.
“We're monitoring the situation, juggling a few things and waiting on a few bits and pieces to happen before we commit to anything,” Bruce said.
“Maybe he will come back. It's a possibility. A lot depends on certain things that are happening at the minute behind the scenes - ins, outs. We'll gauge what we have and haven't got. When we get a clearer picture of what we've got, then we can start making a few decisions.”
Another trialist, centre-half Sonny Aljofree, is still with the Millers.
The 21-year-old centre-half made his second appearance last night in the 1-0 friendly win over Alfreton Town and could be given more game time this weekend against Sheffield United at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
“He's a young lad who I've known for a while,” Bruce said. “We're just having a look at him.”
Aljofree is a free agent after parting company with Manchester United at the end of last season.
He never made a first-team breakthrough with the Red Devils but built up senior experience in League Two loans with Accrington Stanley and Notts County.
The youngster played 28 times for Accrington in 2024/25 and followed that up with 11 appearances for Notts County during their fourth-tier promotion campaign before being recalled by his parent club in January.