Paul Warne discusses Sean Raggett's return to first team training...
Rotherham United defender Sean Raggett today returned to training for the first time since sustaining ligament damage in the away game at Wigan Athletic back in August.
The on loan Canaries man has been working intensely behind the scenes and even showed his desire to return to action by jokingly suggesting to boss Paul Warne that he could have been strapped up by the physios to play weeks previously.
However, a first team return is much more of a reality for the 24-year-old following his involvement in Monday morning’s session and Warne was quick to praise the defender for his attitude throughout his time in the treatment room.
"Sean has done really well with his rehabilitation, he's ticked every box so far,” he told www.themillers.co.uk.
“He has completed plenty of running, and his movements have gone well. Today was his first squad practice, and he joins in with the rest of the lads who have returned from the international break.
Warne, who has previously displayed his intent to ensure that injured players remain a part of the group by allowing Jamie Proctor to lead his teammates out at Wembley following an ACL injury, has heaped similar praise on Raggett for his role in the dressing room at the club’s training base at Roundwood during his absence.
"Sean has loved it here, and he has played a big part behind the scenes,” he continued.
“When you are out of the team injured it is horrendous initially, but when you start progressing through your rehabilitation and you get towards the end you spend more time on the grass, you are working with the lads so you then start to feel more part of it.
"When you then have your first day back you are buzzing, but you are always cautious of certain movements. It will probably take a couple of days to remove the rustiness of his movement patterns, the session today is largely focused around defending, so we'll see how he comes through. It is really great to have him back, and that now is just Darren Potter to come and he is making good progress."
The Millers boss admits that the defender’s progress will be monitored closely following his return to training and concedes that he will have to carefully consider the timeframe within which he rejoins his teammates in match action.
“We don't really want to do anything extreme either way. We don't want to hold him back, but we are conscious of pushing him too hard. We'll have a meeting with the physios and see where we are with him.”
"If he has a really good week, and he looks well then I would have no issue putting him in Saturday if I wanted to play him,” Warne explained.
“Ideally he would have a reserve game, there is one tomorrow so we'll consider whether he can handle 20 minutes. It will depend how is really, if he looks sharp in training he may not need one.”