Hamish Douglas admits his first Rotherham United performance of the season "killed me a little bit" but taking matters back into his own hands has seen the 20-year-old centre-back revived.

As a Rotherham boy, and as a manager working on a tight budget, Matt Hamshaw is keen to bring through academy talent where he can at the New York Stadium.

But no matter your background, players still have to perform, and when Douglas made his seasonal bow at home to Oldham Athletic in October's Football League Trophy, he had a bit of a stinker. Since then he has gone back to working with former Millers player Adam Thompson, and established himself as a mainstay of the side.

Douglas' work with psychologist Thompson away from the club is typical of how modern players take their development into their own hands.

OFF-FIELD HELP: Rotherham United centre-back Hamish Douglas (Image: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

placeholder image — OFF-FIELD HELP: Rotherham United centre-back Hamish Douglas (Image: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

"It's something I got in place last season," revealed the centre-back. "I went on loan to Warrington and the old manager wasn't the best with young lads.

"I felt it's my career, I've got to take control of it. My agent got me in touch with someone – an ex player, Adam Thompson. He's really helped me.

"He just helps me get mentally right. It might not even do anything for me but just to know I've done it helps me.

"I didn't do it before the Oldham game and I think I just went in a little bit blind mentally. I probably wasn't physically right, probably wasn't mentally right, and that just killed me a little bit."

PSYCHOLOGIST: Former Rotherham United player Adam Thompson (Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

And if Douglas went outside of the club to work with Thompson, he has had plenty of help from within too, which allowed him to start eight consecutive matches including a first Football League start at home to Burton Albion in November, which he marked with a goal.

"The lads have tried to help me," said Douglas, recalled from Warrington last season by then-caretaker manager Hamshaw. "They know I'm young, they know I don't want to make mistakes but if I do, they're there to help.

"We work with Woody (former Millers centre-back, now coach Richard Wood) virtually every day and he's been brilliant with us.

"He's constantly in my ear every day about how to get better. It's brilliant we've got him, especially for the young defenders but young players in general.

"I've just got to try and do what I can for the team."