Rotherham United boss Paul Warne makes Jamal Blackman admission as 'keeper returns to Chelsea for treatment

The former Sheffield United loanee, on a season-long stay at the Millers, missed his first game of the season when the problem kept him out of Saturday's 2-1 win over Preston.

Boss Paul Warne was hoping Blackman could play through the pain barrier and rest up during the international break, but that was not possible.

He has returned to the Premier League club for a scan and treatment and Warne does not know when he will return.

Blackman's injury means that Warne can now not press ahead with plans to add a free agent to his squad as Josh Vickers, who joined the club last week following the departure of Lewis Price, will take the final spot in his 25-man squad.

“He is having his treatment at Chelsea, it has been teetering along for a few weeks now, ever since before the Forest game,” Warne said.

“We were hoping that we were going to get to the international break and allow him time to rest it. After Wednesday (against Luton) it wasn't the case.

“Subsequently I have brought Josh Vickers in and he has taken the 25th place in my squad. “I had intended to bring another player in but I can't go into a Championship game with one goalkeeper and I am not sure how long Jamal will be out for.

“He will have a scan and he is having it injected and everything. I honestly don't know until he gets his scan.”

Warne is expecting the international break to be kinder for Joe Mattock, Billy Jones and Kieran Sadlier.

Mattock and Jones missed the win over Preston with respective hamstring and knee injuries while Sadlier limped off with an ankle issue.

“We think Billy Jones will be back at the end of next week,” Warne added. “We think Mattock will be available for Swansea but I could be sat here in three weeks and they are still not available.

“Sadlier has just rolled his ankle. That will be two to three weeks, luckily we haven't got to rush that because he is a fit kid anyway but without having to prep for a game we can take our time.”