Why midfielder Shaun MacDonald is making up for lost time at Rotherham United

It is a cliché but for Paul Warne, having Shaun MacDonald is like having a new signing.

The midfielder joined the Millers last summer on a free transfer from Wigan but had a tough first year at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

He was coming back from a serious leg injury and then suffered with more fitness issues which ruled him out for three months.

Then, just as he was fighting his way back to fitness the season was curtailed by coronavirus.

That did at least allow him an extended period of time to get fit and that has helped him become a key man for the Millers in the early part of the season.

He has started every game and his presence in the middle of midfield has helped accrue five points from the opening four matches.

“I've feel much more 'free' this pre-season,” MacDonald said. “Last pre-season was my first move away after my leg break.

“I hadn't had many minutes before coming here and probably wasn't as fit as I should have been really.

“This season, I've been at it from day one. All the lads are fit. I fee like my old self, which is a good thing.

“Hopefully I can continue to stay in the team and keep helping the lads out.”

It has been a decent start for Warne's men, but there is a sense of what could have been as they conceded injury-time equalisers in their last two games.

Those extra four points would have put them in the top six of the early table and MacDonald thinks anything is possible.

“This is obviously a tough league,” he said. “Some clubs have massive budgets, especially compared to ours. But there are no excuses.

“The world's our oyster really. We know there is going to be some ups and downs but we've got a good feeling in the squad.

“We want to stay up, obviously. That's the main aim.

“But we want to finish as high as we can. I think we have a good enough team here to be in and around mid-table.”