The injury time frame for Rotherham United's Marvin Kaleta, and an update on Denzel Hall
SUMMER signing Marvin Kaleta has added to Rotherham United's growing injury woes by being ruled out of action with a groin issue.
The young attacker had only just returned to the squad after a seven-week absence with hamstring trouble when he reported soreness following a brief substitute appearance in the League One win over Lincoln City on November 8.
He missed last Saturday's 0-0 draw at Luton Town and is now facing another spell on the sidelines.
“He wasn't close to making this match,” said manager Matt Hamshaw in the wake of a stalemate that left the Millers unbeaten in the league since September 27.
“It doesn't look good. I think it's a matter of weeks.”
Rotherham's casualty count is running into double figures for the second time in the 2025/26 campaign yet a new squad continues to defy the odds and show real signs of improvement.
Hamshaw has his fingers crossed that the shoulder damage sustained by Denzel Hall against Luton isn't severe and that the Dutchman will be able to carry on playing.
The wing-back stayed on the pitch for the full match at Kenilworth Road and is being scanned today.
“I think we're MRI-ing everybody at the minute,” said the boss as he managed a grim smile during the crisis. “I might even book myself in for one!
“I'm not going to stand here and moan and groan. We'll carry on working hard, give our best, and I'm sure that will be good enough.”
The Millers are continuing to assess the data at the Roundwood base to see if they can do anything differently to alleviate the problems that have left them with a dearth of fit centre-halves and strikers.
“We monitor training, we monitor loads, we monitor GPS stats,” Hamshaw said.
Meanwhile, the manager revealed why he brought off teenage centre-forward Josh Ayres in the dying minutes against Luton after introducing him as a half-time substitute in place of injured Martin Sherif.
Veteran midfielder Liam Kelly replaced the youngster as the visitors saw out the contest.
“Josh came on in the second half and ran around like a madman,” Hamshaw said. “He didn't really get much of the ball but he did a job.
“I then just felt that I needed to shore up the midfield a little bit in added time.”