Rotherham United and the emergency hunt for a new goalkeeper

ROTHERHAM United are making a move to sign a new goalkeeper to shore up their Championship survival mission now that both of their senior shot-stoppers are in the treatment room.

The Millers were already without first-choice Viktor Johansson before number two Josh Vickers had to leave the field with a groin issue in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with leaders Burnley at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

Young back-up Robbie Hemfrey came off the bench to perform admirably on his professional debut but isn’t deemed ready to hold the fort during the four-game run-in to the campaign.

“We have to quickly go into the emergency loan market and find a keeper,” manager Matt Taylor confirmed. “Viktor is making good progress but he won’t be there by the weekend. Whoever comes in will have to play on Saturday and in the following game as well.”

Taylor will canvass the opinions of head of recruitment Rob Scott and goalkeeper coach Scott Brown before deciding who to bring in.

“There won’t be too many out there and available at this stage of the season but we have to move fast,” he said.

Rotherham head to Bristol City on Saturday and then face a crunch home clash with safety rivals Cardiff City at New York next Thursday.

Vickers, who had played in the previous two matches because of Johansson’s shoulder injury, damaged his groin in the first half against Burnley and was withdrawn at the interval.

“To start with, we were going to keep him on, but then it was apparent his movement was hampered too much,” Taylor said. “He went out with Scotty (Scott Brown) at half-time just to see if he could move off his injured side but he was in too much pain.

“It shows how much of a serious injury it was. He wanted to keep going but it was a decision we felt we had to make.”

A time frame has yet to be put on Vickers’ recovery.

Rotherham have been plagued by injuries all season and have a number of players sidelined. Taylor has revealed that several others have needed injections to continue being available.

“There has been a constant stream of outfield problems and now we have the two goalkeepers out as well,” he said.