The salute to Rotherham United frontman Jordan Hugill
COURAGEOUS Jordan Hugill was today singled out for special praise by admiring boss Matt Hamshaw after playing through the pain barrier to help injury-plagued Rotherham United extend their unbeaten League One run.
The striker took his place in the starting 11 at Reading despite sustaining ankle damage a week earlier in the goalless stalemate at Luton Town.
At one stage duing the build-up to the Royals clash he had virtually been ruled out of contention, but he woke up this morning at the team hotel determined to lead the line at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
“Jordan has gone through hell and back this week,” Hamshaw said. “The fact that he's played 45 minutes – you should see the bruising on his ankle – speaks volumes about his character.”
The 33-year-old lasted for all of the first half during which 11th-placed Rotherham scored the goal that earned them a 1-1 draw and stretched their third-tier record without loss to eight matches.
Their casualty count runs into double figures and Hamshaw can’t wait to have more attackers and centre-halves at his disposal.
”It's a good a point in the end,” said the boss after watching Charlie Savage's stunning 78th-minute strike cancel out Josh Benson's opener for the visitors.
”There's no secret about how low we are on bodies at the moment. There wasn't enough attacking threat in the second half. First half, we looked a real threat and scored a great team goal.
”The team are just giving us everything, They're giving the fans everything. We are light on numbers. That's what makes this point probably even better.”
With a full-strength side, the Millers look good enough to challenge for a play-off spot.
”We're capable of great things,” Hamshaw said. “I've said all along, we're a work in progress. The lads have trained really well this week. We've worked a lot more on the attacking threat, believe it or not. We've worked on different ways because we knew that we might not have a so-called 9 to play off.”
Hugill was the only senior frontman available for selection this afternoon.
Ar'Jany Martha was named among the substitutes after travelling back from the Caribbean where he had been on international duty with Curacao.
He replaced Hugill and played up front, although that is not his usual position.
“Ar'Jany landed back at Heathrow Airport yesterday morning, so he hasn't been training with us this week,” Hamshshaw said.
“Look, we're getting there, we just need a few bodies back.”