Rotherham United relying on January window to boost League One survival chances
ON the evidence of Tuesday night, wheeling and dealing in the transfer market – as manager Matt Hamshaw put it – and getting some key players back fit represents Rotherham United's only hope of League One salvation.
Their midweek appointment at Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town was in the EFL Trophy and therefore no league points were at stake. But their grave problems were laid bare in a poor 3-0 elimination.
Speaking afterwards, Hamshaw pulled no punches after the club's seventh successive loss and admitted players were ‘miles off it' and lacked belief and desire.
The Millers have been linked with a loan move for Leeds United teenage striker Harry Gray, but Hamshaw was remaining tight-lipped afterwards when questioned about it.
United are in the market for strikers and centre-halves, with the loan returns of Martin Sherif and Thomas Holmes giving them scope for new arrivals.
Getting them over the line remains key, with the funds tight and things not straightforward, while the return to action in particular of Sam Nombe looks a must if the club are to give themselves the best chance of retaining their divisional status.
On the transfer front, Hamshaw (pictured) said: "We had to take people out to get people in, so that's been quite frustrating.
"But at the same time, we knew that was going to be the case.
"I'm going to have to wheel and deal and manoeuvre little things, but I think that when you look at where we are, what we've got and what we are missing, it's quite clear to see the area that needs strengthening.
"I've been sat with my fingers crossed from the first of January.
"So I would have wanted them in a lot quicker than we've got, but I'm hopeful in this next few days, there's going to be some positive news, but we need to wait and see.
"There's been a lot of phone calls, enquiries, knockbacks and a few positives, as there always is in January, so we'll keep fighting.
"We'll keep striving and keep believing in what we're doing.
"Look, we're missing our (main) team at this moment in time, which is tough.
"But I think in one to two weeks we'll be a lot more positive in the numbers we've got and hopefully have added a bit of quality to the group."