Boost for Rotherham United boss Paul Warne as key duo set for January return

MacDonald and Robertson have been out since October with a broken leg and a broken metatarsal respectively and their absence has been felt as the Millers have slipped into a relegation battle.

But they are on the mend and have been given the go-ahead to return to training early in 2021.

Boss Paul Warne said: “Shauny Mac and Clark Robertson should be training with the squad in early January.“Both have had the green lights from their surgeons about their breaks and are starting stages of running.

“I've been told by the physios that I should be able to have Shaun training again the week of the FA Cup tie against Everton, although obviously he won't be match ready, and I should have Robbo, if everything goes really well, the week after.”Robertson's return would provide a big boost to Warne as he can play at left-back, a position the Millers have had to use utility players in because of an injury to Joe Mattock.

“That would be a massive boost,” Warne added. “We've had five, six, seven games without any left-back.

“We tried to sign a left-back in the summer but that didn't work out in the end. We're playing (Ben) Wilesy out of position at the moment. It would be great to have Robbo back. He's a big player for us.”

The Millers are still waiting on the fate of their festive schedule after a player tested positive for coronavirus over the weekend.

Their game with Derby was called off at short notice as a result and all the Millers camp were forced to self-isolate until test results for the entire squad came back.

It is understood they were returned on Monday, but there is no news yet as to whether their Boxing Day game at Middlesbrough will go ahead.

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