Tom Eaves speeding back for Rotherham United and Ollie Rathbone is fit again

The promoted Millers initially feared that calf damage sustained in pre-season would sideline the striker for close to three months.

But recent tests have slashed that forecast and the 30-year-old could resume training less than a fortnight.

“Prior to him seeing a specialist last week, we thought it was going to be the end of September before we saw him,” said manager Paul Warne. 

“We now think that, if everything goes well, he should be back on the grass in about ten days. 

“That will have a massive impact on the dressing room. He’s very popular with the lads.”

Another missing centre-forward, Josh Kayode, who pulled his hamstring in a friendly at Mansfield Town, is around halfway through his six-week recovery period.

Meanwhile, Ollie Rathbone is back in full training and was in contention for a squad place before today's scheduled clash at Coventry City was postponed because of an unsafe playing surface.

The midfielder, who has been nursing a sore quad, came close to making the team for last Saturday’s 1-1 opening-day draw with Swansea City at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

“I could have risked him but he could then have been out for three or four weeks," Warne said. "I was never going to be the manager who was going to do that.”

Wing-back Tolaji Bola is another player back in the fold after injury. He missed out against the Swans because he’d rejoined the main group only two days earlier.

Rotherham’s squad were given last Monday off as the Coventry encounter was a Sunday fixture and Warne wanted his group to have the same six-day lead-in to a match that they normally would.

Players like new boys Lee Peltier and Scott High who needed game-time took part in a practice match at Roundwood on Tuesday.

Midfielder Hakeem Odoffin has picked up a leg injury and the club are awaiting scan results. Warne doesn't anticipate the issue being serious