Fitness updates on Rotherham United trio Josh Kayode, Shane Ferguson and Tom Eaves

JOSH Kayode put his injury nightmare behind him this week by making his long-awaited return to full training with Rotherham United.

The striker was laid low by a knee injury early last term and then needed February surgery on a damaged quad that ended his loan season with MK Dons.

He underwent his rehabilitation with the Millers and was finally back among his teammates on Tuesday as the players assembled at Roundwood for the first time since the week-long camp in Murcia, Spain.

Kayode missed that trip along with winger Shane Ferguson and frontman Tom Eaves.

Ferguson is closing in on a comeback after having an operation on a hernia during the summer but Eaves remains out of the picture because of a calf issue picked up on the first day of pre-season.

“Shane's not too far away,” manager Matt Taylor said. “He's doing individual work with a ball with the coaches.

“That gets him closer to the main group while he's still doing his strength programme on the area of his hernia. I expect him to be back fully with the main group next week and in part this week. Unfortunately, Tom is still a little way away. He's not quite where we want him to be.”

Eaves spent the off-season resting a sore hip after experiencing discomfort since last March.

Kayode may be involved in Saturday’s friendly at Mansfield Town while Ferguson's first summer action could come the following weekend at Lincoln City.