Touch and go for Rotherham United duo ... and there may be another significant injury in the camp
TWO Rotherham United midfielders are caught in a race against time as they try to prove their fitness for Saturday's derby-day trip to Huddersfield Town.
Dan Gore, who has just returned to the side after a shoulder problem, hurt in ankle in the midweek draw with Mansfield Town while Josh Benson is still being troubled by a tight calf.
There are also concerns over some other players as the Millers gear up for the 12.30pm kick-off against their Yorkshire rivals.
“Dan got a knock, which we're hopeful is not too bad,” said manager Matt Hamshaw this afternoon. “It was just a kick. Josh is still feeling his calf at this moment, so we're just waiting to see on that one.”
The pair are important figures in the fight against League One relegation.
Rotherham's casualty count has increased considerably during a congested period of fixtures and midfield man Dru Yearwood (calf) and Zak Jules (ankle) both failed to finished the Mansfield match.
One of them may be facing a prolonged period on the sidelines, but Hamshaw – wary of not giving Huddersfield too much information – isn't saying who.
“We might have got a bit more bad news,” the boss said. “I can't really go into too much depth about team selection here, but we've not had much luck on the injury front over these last five games, really. We seem to have lost two players in every match and that could affect this weekend.
“I think one might be longer term and one, hopefully, could have a chance for Saturday.”
The other absentees are Denzel Hall, Marvin Kaleta, Hamish Douglas, Emmanuel Adegboyega, Jordan Hugill, Kian Spence and Josh Kayode, with only Adegboyega close to a comeback.
Hamshaw thought his drop-zone team looked flat in the goalless stalemate with Mansfield as they played a Tuesday-night match for the third week in a row and moved to within two points of safety.
“We had a lot of tired bodies come the end of that game,” he said. “It's been a hectic schedule. I think it's been five games in 15 days and, obviously, we've got Huddersfield to come this weekend.
“We trained this morning. We'll keep the players refreshed, make sure we do a light session tomorrow and then get ready to rock 'n' roll again on Saturday.
A crowded treatment room has been a recurring theme for the Millers in their 2025/26 campaign and has been a major factor in their lowly status in the table.
“It's been difficult,” Hamshaw said. “I feel like we've lost our better players for too long a period of time this season, and that's put us in the position we're in.
“It's been hard not being able to make changes in games. Against Plymouth Argyle (1-0 win last Saturday), we're bringing on Dan Gore and Shaun McWilliams.
“No disrespect to anybody else, but the level of substitute we've been putting on in some weeks hasn't been of the same kind of standard. In that last half an hour, you want your team to stay just good, if not become even better. We haven't had that luxury.”