Will Josh Vickers be back before the end of the season for Rotherham United?

GOALKEEPER Josh Vickers will play no further part in Rotherham United's push for Championship survival.

The 27-year-old damaged his groin in the 2-2 home draw with promoted Burnley last Tuesday and is now facing well over a month out of action.

It's a blow for the 19th-placed Millers, who have three matches left in the final fortnight of the campaign to secure their second-tier safety, as they have a fitness concern hanging over number one Viktor Johansson.

"Josh is done for the season, manager Matt Taylor told the Advertiser. "It's a six-week injury and comes too close to the end of the campaign for him to be available again.

"It's graded '2C' so it's a serious tear with a little bit of tendon damage in there."

Happily, Rotherham don't expect the shot-stopper to require surgery.

Vickers had been making his third successive appearance in the absence of Johansson through shoulder trouble when misfortune struck against the Clarets and he was unable to continue beyond half-time.

Johansson returned ahead of schedule for Saturday's 2-1 stoppage-time loss at Bristol City after the Millers had tried in vain to sign a loan keeper on a seven-day emergency deal.

Taylor admitted there were still a degree of worry over the Swede's condition despite his comeback.

Young number three Robbie Hemfrey, who made his career debut as Vickers' replacement against Vincent Kompany's side, will be the back-up keeper on the bench for the run-in.

Nineteenth-placed Rotherham, in need of three more points to be virtually certain of their place in the second tier next year, face Cardiff City at AESSEAL New York Stadium on Thursday.

After that, they have a home clash with Middlesbrough next Monday, followed by a last-day trip to Wigan Athletic on May 8.