Update on missing man Dan Gore ahead of Rotherham United's trip to Peterborough United
ROTHERHAM United are giving midfielder Dan Gore until the last minute to prove his fitness as they gear up for the next match in their League One survival mission.
The 22nd-placed Millers head to mid-table Peterborough United tomorrow seeking to close a five-point gap between them and safety.
Key man Gore has missed the last two matches with an ankle knock and is being tested daily.
“We're hoping he'll make it,” said manager Matt Hamshaw after Saturday's 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers. “I've got everything crossed. I'll have my prayer mat out and all the rest of it. We need options like him.”
Rotherham may have another midfielder, Liam Kelly, available after the veteran sat out the Trotters clash.
“He's had sickness and diarrhoea,” said the boss as he addressed the outbreak of illness that hit the camp last week.
When asked if the bug was a factor in the Millers giving up a 2-0 half-time lead at AESSEAL New York Stadium at the weekend, Hamshaw replied: “A little bit, but I won't go into naming players. People put their bodies on the line.
“I think you saw us blow up a little bit, which is very unlike us. But that isn't an excuse. We have to be better in certain moments, we have to have a bit more control of the ball. We could have done with Liam - he can control the tempo. We probably needed that steady head in there.”
Midfield man Josh Benson, who made his comeback as a substitute against Bolton following a two-week injury absence, may be pressed into action even though he is not yet fully recovered. “‘Benno’ is playing with a calf tear,” Hamshaw said.
Both Rotherham and Peterborough are down on numbers because of high casualty counts and Posh are expected to be without top scorer Harry Leonard, centre-half Tom Lees, midfielders Matt Garbett and Ben Woods and wing-back and captain skipper Carl Johnston.
Their main striker is likely to be David Kamara or Pemi Aderoju, both of whom have been out on non-league loans this term and have little EFL experience.
The Millers have 10 matches remaining in which to escape the drop zone and Hamshaw said: “The lads have given everything against Bolton. We need to stay in this together.”