Will Rotherham United have Cafu back this weekend? Manager Matt Taylor gives an update

The Millers have suffered successive away losses in the absence of their influential midfielder because of a hamstring niggle and they have been hoping he would be fit to return for the match on home turf with the unbeaten Lilywhites.

However, Taylor said after last night's 3-0 defeat at Millwall: "Unfortunately, we have no cavalry around the corner to make an immediate difference. I've got to make sure this group of players are mentally strong enough to get through this difficult time."

Rotherham have been by injuries all season and will be lacking right-back Lee Peltier, centre-halves Grant Hall and Sean Morrison, midfielder Jamie Lindsay and winger Shane Ferguson as well as their Portuguese playmaker.

In addition, left-back Cohen faces a race against time to be fit after jarring his knee in last weekend's 3-0 reverse at Huddersfield Town and missing the match at the New Den.

After seeing off high-flying Norwich City 2-1 at AESSEAL New York Stadium earlier this month, the 21st-placed Millers have lost both of the matches Cafu has been forced to sit out since the end of the international break.

"We can't use that as an excuse for where we are right now," Taylor said. "It was only two games ago that we were beating a really good team in Norwich. That's how quickly football can change.

"I've just said to the group, when it's not a structured game we've got to find a way of still withstanding a little bit of direct play. We've known the weakness is there since the start of the season; it's about how we address it."

Twenty-year-old Aston Villa loanee Sebastian Revan deputised for Bramall against the Lions, making his debut in EFL football in the process.

"It was a massive pride point for him, but the physicality of the Championship showed," said Taylor. "He was cramping up after 70 minutes.

"Now we've got a question mark between him or Cohen over who's going to be fit for the Norwich game. Structurally, there is nothing wrong with Cohen's knee. We just hope that the pain subsides enough for him to be available."