Rotherham boss Neil Redfearn targeting midfielders in January transfer window

Rotherham boss Neil Redfearn will turn his attention in the transfer market to the midfield area after losing Lee Frecklington to injury.

The Millers skipper suffered a hamstring strain in the opening exchanges of the 2-1 defeat and looks set to spend most of January in the treatment room.

It leaves Redfearn down to the bare bones in the middle following Luke Hyam's early recall to Ipswich last month and he will be looking to bring in further reinforcements after the signing of Manchester City defender Shay Facey.

“Shay was the first of one or two that we hope to get in," Redfearn said.  "Then we have got other targets.

"Now we have to look at the midfield area because we are very light in there with the injuries. We need some cover in there or someone who can compete."

Frecklington's injury was just one of a number of things to go wrong for the Millers at Deepdale as they went down to a last-gasp defeat.

Central defender Farrend Rawson also hobbled off with a hamstring injury, though his is not thought to be as serious as Frecklington's.

"Frecklington has a hamstring strain, which is obviously not good, and Rawson felt his hamstring at the back of his knee," the boss added.

"We're not flush with players. We have got players injured and things are mounting up.

"With Frecklington, you're looking at a few weeks; Rawson, whether it's a bit of tiredness or cramp we will have to see. He was struggling at the end and we had to take him off."

To make matters worse, the existing injury list shows no signs of clearing, with Redfearn revealing that Stephen Kelly, who was expected to be in contention for all three of the festive fixtures, is still some way away from fitness.

“Stephen's still got a way to go," Redfearn revealed. "He wasn't fit for Preston and we will have to monitor him again to make sure he's fit when he does come back.

“We’re trying to settle things down and we're not having much luck with injuries. 

"Kelly goes missing and he's important to us. We sign (Leon) Best and then he goes missing because he has got to have an op. 

"I'm not one to moan but you do need that bit of luck to keep your side out there, a side that is going to win you games and get you points."