Rotherham United manager Paul Warne voices fears that Michael Ihiekwe's season is over

The former Tranmere Rovers centre-half, labelled as the Millers stand-out player this season by Warne, suffered the problem in training last week and missed the League One loss at Rochdale last Saturday.

Providing an update, Warne - whose League One high-fliers are due to welcome Southend United on Saturday afternoon - said: "He has had a scan on his knee. We thought he had done all his damage to the outside of his knee and we thought he was in all sorts of trouble and that his season was over.

"He went for a second opinion and it was a little bit different to that and it said he had got some fibres there because he can still feel pain when he moves it in a certain direction, so we are hanging onto that little bit of hope.

"He is seeing someone else tomorrow (Friday) and they may inject it and he might only be out only for four or five weeks - and that's another three or four weeks - and that would be the best situation.

"Speaking to him again today, I hope that is definitely the case as he has been our stand-out player throughout the season and it is a massive blow to us.

"We are a positive group, so hopefully that is the case. But there is a larger percentage chance that his season is done."