Rotherham United's Dan Gore has to go off at Exeter City. Picture: Jim Brailsfordplaceholder image
Rotherham United's Dan Gore has to go off at Exeter City. Picture: Jim Brailsford
DAN Gore is being assessed by medical staff after being forced from the field in Rotherham United's best performance of the season this weekend.
The young midfielder, who has become a key man since his summer loan switch from Manchester United, had to come off late in the first half of yesterday's League One clash at Exeter City.
The Millers coped admirably in his absence, stretching the 1-0 lead they had at the time of his departure into a 4-0 romp by the final whistle.
But they will be desperately keen for the verdict from the treatment room on the 21-year-old, who had just returned from a groin complaint, to be a positive one and allay fears that he is facing another spell on the sidelines.
“It's a shoulder injury,” said manager Matt Hamshaw following his side's biggest victory of the campaign. “He got smashed late from behind. He's in a bit of pain in the dressing room at the minute. I'm hoping it's not serious. It's a case of wait and see.”
The victory lifted the Millers out of the bottom four and they have now taken seven points from their last three outings.
Gore hit the deck as a result of Ethan Brierley’s 38th-minute challenge, was soon substituted and then had his damaged joint put into a sling to protect it.
The Exeter culprit was lucky that he escaped censure because he had already been booked for an earlier incident by referee Paul Howard.
“I was disappointed because I felt that their player could have had a second yellow card,” Hamshaw said. “We've lost our player and, obviously, theirs has stayed on the pitch.
“It's frustrating that Dan has had to come off. I've said all along, we're going to need a squad, it's not just about the 11.”
With January new boys making an impact and players returning from injury, the Millers are more like the side that went nine third-tier matches unbeaten in October and November and they look capable of climbing the table.
However, they will dip back into the drop zone on Tuesday night as Burton Albion play Doncaster Rovers and one of those clubs will go above them.
Gore missed a month of action after hurting his groin at Blackpool on December 29.
He made a game-changing impact as a half-time substitute in the 2-1 home win over Northampton Town on Tuesday and returned to the starting line-up at St James Park.
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