Rotherham United have been hit with another hamstring injury, with young defender Marvin Kaleta ruled out of this weekend's derby against Chesterfield. The 21-year-old becomes the third Millers player to suffer the same muscle problem in the opening weeks of the League Two campaign, joining Lenny Agbaire and teenager Harrison Duncan on the sidelines.
Manager Alex Bruce confirmed the news, telling the Rotherham Advertiser, "He will struggle for this weekend." The setback comes as Rotherham, currently 17th in League Two with one point from two games, seek their first win of the season. They face a Chesterfield side sitting 16th, just one place above them, at the AESSEAL New York Stadium on Saturday.
Who are Rotherham's other injury victims?
Lenny Agbaire is facing a longer spell out, expected to miss around two months after picking up his hamstring injury during the 1-1 draw with York City. The other absentee is young forward Harrison Duncan, who signed his first professional contract this summer but has not been available since pre-season due to his own hamstring issue. The club's treatment room, however, remains far emptier than during the previous campaign, when a lengthy injury list was a major factor in the club's relegation.
Midfielder Jamie Jellis is also a doubt for the Chesterfield game with a minor calf problem. Bruce described him as 'touch and go' after he sat out the York City match, though he has returned to training on the grass at Roundwood this week. Beyond these specific cases, Bruce stated everyone else is dealing only with standard bumps and bruises. Fans can track the latest fitness news on the club's injuries page.
What has been Marvin Kaleta's season so far?
Kaleta joined Rotherham from Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer but saw his first year disrupted by multiple injuries. This term, he had finally been fit but found opportunities limited under the new boss. He was an unused substitute in the Carabao Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion, travelled but was not in the matchday 18 for the opening-day loss at Cheltenham Town, and was on the bench for the York City draw. This latest injury halts any momentum he had built towards earning his first minutes of the campaign.
How does this affect Rotherham's derby preparations?
The loss of Kaleta, and the potential absence of Jellis, comes at a challenging time. The fixture against Chesterfield is a local derby, and Bruce anticipates a physical battle. "It's a derby and there'll be tackles flying in," he said. Rotherham's start has been slow, with a draw and a loss leaving them five points behind early leaders Barnet. They have scored two goals and conceded three, giving them a minus-one goal difference. A positive result is important to build momentum, and the full schedule ahead can be seen on our fixtures page.
What are the stakes for the Chesterfield game?
With both teams in the lower half of the table after two games, early points carry added weight. Chesterfield have lost twice and won once this season and are reportedly bringing a decent away support to New York Stadium. For Rotherham, securing a first victory would provide a significant boost and begin to close the gap to the top of the table. The current standings show how tight the early season is, and a win could see a substantial climb. Bruce will need to adjust his defensive options with Kaleta unavailable, placing focus on the remaining fit members of the squad to step up in a high-intensity fixture.
