Rotherham United striker Jamie Proctor on his three-year injury hell and why he's aiming to win the trust of Millers boss Paul Warne

It would be easy for Rotherham striker Jamie Proctor to have a pretty big grudge given the injury nightmare he has had to endure over the last three years.
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Proctor has spent more time in the operating theatre than the Millers team in recent times after two big injuries.

The first was snapping his cruciate ligament just a couple of months into his Millers career in 2017 and then the second was a hip problem that needed two rounds of surgery.

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Proctor burst on to the scene in 2017 following his arrival at the AESSEAL New York Stadium and looked like he was going to be a real asset to the club.

Then it all went horribly wrong.

Proctor would be well within his rights to feel sorry for himself, especially as he is currently Paul Warne's fifth choice striker.

But the 28-year-old is not allowing himself to think like that.

“At the time you just don't know how bad it is,” he told the Star in an exclusive interview.

Rotherham United striker Jamie Proctor has spoken about his three-year injury nightmare.  (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)Rotherham United striker Jamie Proctor has spoken about his three-year injury nightmare.  (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Rotherham United striker Jamie Proctor has spoken about his three-year injury nightmare. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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“I was playing well and I was enjoying it and you think, 'I've done my knee, I'll be out for 12 months and then I'll come back and play well again'. You can't have a crystal ball where you can see that three years later I still won't be in the team. You just don't know.

“The fact that three years later I am just fighting to get back in the squad is disappointing but it's no one's fault other than my own.

“A little bit of bad luck along the way has played it's part, but I've probably had the worst three years you could imagine for a player.

“Also when I have played I haven't been good enough, I haven't been fit enough so I have got to look at myself.

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“I will do that and give everything I have got to show what I can and hopefully just get somewhere near the squad. That is just about gaining trust.

“If I can get the trust back of the manager then we will see where that goes.”

Proctor has only played a fleeting role since his initial knee injury and loan spells at Scunthorpe and AFC Fylde did little to help.

But he is feeling like he now has full trust in his knee.

“I am fully fit, I trained all pre-season, I am fit and available and good to go.” Proctor, who has started up his own coaching academy, JP Pro Coaching, said. “Even though I have been fit-ish over the past three years at stages, going out on loan, I was never fit and my knee has never been right for large portions of that time.

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“Coming back this season it is the first time where in my head it does feel back to where it should be.

“Hopefully we can keep it like that. I am fit and available whenever I may or may not be needed. Only time will tell with that.”

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Chris Holt, Football Editor