What next for Rotherham United’s Josh Kayode after operation?

The centre-forward who joined Carlisle United on loan in the summer transfer window was operated on a fortnight ago after tearing a shoulder muscle in his first outing for the Cumbrians.

He returned to the Championship Millers to have the procedure but manager Matt Taylor confirmed that the player will head back to the north west for a recovery process that is expected to take up to 12 weeks.

“He'll do the majority of his rehab at Carlisle," Taylor said. “It's the best thing to do because he's still got a big part to play for them.”

The 23-year-old needed a knee op during a loan spell at MK Dons last term, then required more surgery in the New Year when he suffered a quad injury with the Millers.

This season's move was a chance for the Republic of Ireland under-21 international to reignite his career but the extent of his latest issue became apparent after he'd played through the pain in a second outing for Paul Simpson's team.

“What a shame for ‘JJ’, his luck has been horrendous,” said Taylor. “I can't explain it because he's a tough boy. He did it in one game and started the next one. That shows how desperate he is to keep himself on the pitch.

“At least it's happened early on rather than in January like last season when he couldn't play again. He's still got a big chunk of the campaign left to get game-time.”

Kayode rejected the chance of a permanent switch to Carlisle or Barnsley - with both League One clubs offering six-figure fees - in favour of a third temporary switch to Brunton Park.

He isn't part of Taylor's second-tier thinking but is a wanted man in the division below where the number of teams interested in him during the window reached double figures.