Surgery verdict on Cameron Humphreys and how long the Rotherham United centre-half will be out for

Cameron Humphreys in Championship action for Rotherham United against Preston North end last weekend. Picture: Jim Brailsford

The centre-half limped out of last weekend's Championship draw with Preston North End at AESSEAL New York Stadium and the boss described the hamstring injury as “about as serious as you can get”.

His absence is a huge blow to the Millers, who are short on numbers at the heart of their rearguard, as he had become a key man and had played every minute of every league match this season before misfortune struck against the Lilywhites.

“There are a few final decisions still to be made,” Taylor said. “More than likely he will have surgery next week to try to repair that substantial tear.

“He's going to be out for months, and a number of months at that. The time frame doesn't change too much with or without an operation.”

The boss considers the 25-year-old as one of the club's prized assets and revealed he would have expected interest in the player from bigger teams in the next transfer window had the former Manchester City youngster stayed fit.

“He'll do well to be on the pitch this side of January,” Taylor said. “You're really looking at the New Year and the months beyond that.

The loss of Humphreys leaves Rotherham with only one fit senior centre-half in Tyler Blackett, although Grant Hall is close to a return from hamstring trouble and is travelling with the squad at Saturday's at Cardiff City.

“Cam's been very consistent for the last calendar year and we feel he can get even better,” Taylor said. “This injury has certainly put us on the back foot and knocked the stuffing out of his season. I still hope and expect he will play a part.

“We'll support him through the initial weeks and months and then try our hardest to get him back on the pitch and back to the player we've seen for the last 12 months.”

Humphreys had been playing his third match in eight days against Preston and the Millers had been unable to rest him because of the size of their injury list.

“It's the build-up of three games and the stress on his body of those three games, plus the travelling," Taylor said. “We couldn't change the backline at any stage and ‘offload’ him.”