Will Grant Hall feature for Rotherham United again this season?

GRANT Hall will play no further part in Rotherham United’s Championship run-in after succumbing to the latest of the injuries that have blighted his time in South Yorkshire.

The centre-half (right) has been an impressive performer for the Millers when he’s been fit but his year-long loan spell at AESSEAL New York Stadium has been restricted to 21 appearances by persistent hamstring trouble.

There had been hopes that he would recover from his most recent setback — suffered in the home win over Sunderland on February 21 — in time to re-join the latter stages of the club’s fight for second-tier survival.

However, the issue is so serious that his recovery is set to stretch beyond May 8’s final day at Wigan Athletic.

“He was close to having surgery on his hamstring,” manager Matt Taylor said. “That shows how severe the injury was. He’s doing as much as he possibly can in the gym but you just run out of days and weeks. We don’t expect him to be fit for the remainder of the season.”

The defender has stayed with Rotherham for treatment rather than return to parent club Middlesbrough where he is out of contract at the end of the season.

He has spent time on the sidelines through much of his career and has yet to reach 250 outings in his 11 years as a pro.

The former Queens Park Rangers man has revealed he is open to talks about joining the Millers on a permanent deal. Taylor is a big admirer of the 31-year-old but says any negotiations won’t take place until further down the line.

“There is no bigger fan of Grant than myself,” the boss said. “All those discussions are to come. A lot rides on where a player wants to be. His family are still based in the south (Brighton).”

Hall was a regular Millers starter until early November when he limped out of the New York clash with Norwich City with a hamstring complaint. He suffered a recurrence as he closed in on a comeback and didn’t make his return until the Sheffield United derby on February 4.

His curse struck again only four outings later against the Black Cats when he over-stretched while reaching for the ball during a Rotherham attack just after half-time.

“You need to get Grant on the pitch and keep him on the pitch,” Taylor said. “The injuries have obviously hampered his season. That (his chequered fitness record) might be why he’s been on loan to ourselves and not been a mainstay in Middlesbrough’s side or another team elsewhere.

“I’m pleased he’s enjoyed it here and he’s someone I’ll always want to work with. Believe me, he’s a good player.”