The reason why skipper Joe Rafferty was a spectator as Rotherham United took on Salford City
An incident at the Millers’ Roundwood training base was to blame
Boss Alex Bruce has revealed why club captain Joe Rafferty was a missing man for Rotherham United last weekend.
The Millers had the better of a 3-3 draw with League Two promotion favourites Salford City at AESSEAL New York Stadium, and the right-back wasn't named in the matchday 18.
An injury picked up in training earlier in the week was behind the absence of the 32-year-old who watched the clash with his family from the West Stand.
"He took a nasty bang on Tuesday," Bruce said. "He took a knee to the lower back. It’s an impact injury and he's got quite a lot of bruising."
Happily, the skipper isn't expected to be out for long and he could be available for the trip to Northampton Town on Saturday.
"It should be only a few days," said Bruce.
Rafferty has struggled for game time so far in his third season at New York, making one start and coming on three times as a substitute in the opening six matches.
The Millers have been playing without two of the best midfielders as Jamie Jellis and Kian Spence recover from calf issues.
Bruce talked about the possibility of the duo being available for the clash with the Cobblers, but that fixture might come too soon for them.
"I hope they're ready," the head coach said. "They are a miss to us."
While the pair have been in the treatment room, other players have stepped up and pressed their claims to be regular starters, with Brandon Cover, Ossama Ashley Josh Austerfield and Jayce Fitzgerald all impressing.
"The lads who've come in have all turned up and had a go," said Bruce. "That's a pleasing thing."
Summer signing Jellis played on opening day at Cheltenham Town and has since sat out five games while Spence hasn't featured in the last two.
It has been a frustrating time for the former who racked up 100 outings in two years with Walsall before moving to Rotherham.