TEENAGE loan striker Harry Gray has bid a temporary farewell to Rotherham United as he undergoes treatment on the injury that is keeping him out of the battle to avoid League One relegation.
The 17-year-old Leeds United prospect started 11 straight games following his January arrival before picking up a hamstring issue in last weekend's 2-2- draw with Bolton Wanderers.
He has headed back to his parent side for treatment and the Millers hope he will join a raft of other players in being fit again by the time they return to action after the upcoming two-week international break.
“It's a very common practice with loan players, especially when you're dealing with young ones,” said new boss Lee Clark who this week replaced sacked Matt Hamsaw in the AESSEAL New York Stadium hot-seat. “Harry can benefit from the medical facilities at his own Premier League club, especially with Leeds just being down the road.
Rotherham United loanee Harry Gray. Picture: Jim Brailsfordplaceholder image
Rotherham United loanee Harry Gray. Picture: Jim Brailsford
“We're hopeful on him being available for the next group of matches after Saturday, which will be a big boost. He's a very exciting young player who comes from a great pedigree.
“I'm looking forward to Harry returning with, hopefully, a few others. Injuries have blighted the season. When I came in this morning (Thursday) for the first time, I saw probably as many players in the medical room as there are available for selection.”
Gray, who scored twice in his first four matches but has been without a goal since, missed Tuesday's 5-0 loss at Peterborough United and will sit out tomorrow's visit to table-topping Lincoln City.
Rotherham are then without a game next weekend and then have a home fixture with Stevenage on Good Friday.
“Hopefully, he'll come back for that and the other remaining seven games afterwards and help us get the job done,” Clark said.
The job the new manager was referring to is the mission to pull off a great escape by closing a six-point gap to safety and securing third-tier survival.
Clark is no stranger to firefighting at the wrong end of the table and has successfully done it three times in the past.
“I've been in this predicament before,” he said. “At Bury, I kept them in League One. With Kilmarnock, I kept them in the Scottish First Division. With Birmingham, I did the same in the Championship.”
Chief operating officer Paul Douglas is hoping the 53-year-old Geordie has the same kind of effect as Neil Warnock did a decade. Warnock came through the New York door in February and pulled off a 16-game ‘miracle’ in the second tier by saving Rotherham when the drop seemed inevitable.
“We've done this before,” the COO said. “Everybody will remember 2016. Neil had a lot more games to work with. We did feel that Lee's experience in similar circumstances now could be a key factor.”
It has been a whirlwind 48 hours for Clark who was contacted by Rotherham on Wednesday morning after club owner Tony Stewart had terminated Hamshaw's employment on Tuesday evening in the aftermath of the Peterborough defeat.
“We met up and had a conversation,” the new man said. “I then got the news that the chairman and the board had decided that they would like me to take over. I quickly agreed to that. There were no issues with anything.
“It was back to the North-east late last night (Wednesday) to collect some belongings and then back down here this morning to meet the staff and the players at the training ground and get cracking for Saturday.
“When the call came, it excited me. I know it's tough and people might think I'm crazy, but I think I can get the job done.”
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