Losing your place in the team is never easy to cope with, but Jamie Lindsay has been waiting patiently for his opportunity to get back into the side, and he was given his just rewards during last Saturday’s stalemate with MK Dons.
The 24-year-old was handed a starting berth in the absence of Dan Barlaser who picked up an injury in the clash against Coventry City, but after showing no signs of rustiness on his return to the Rotherham midfield, he is determined to make his mark as he and his teammates set sights on promotion.
"I feel good and I've had a good break from the rigorous schedule of playing every week, even though that isn't what I've wanted,” Lindsay told www.themillers.co.uk.
"I feel fresh, but obviously I was a little bit tired at the end of the game [against MK Dons] but it is just because I haven't played too many minutes in the last three months or so. That is to be expected but I actually felt better than I thought I would feel, so I'm happy with that.
"The middle of the park is a strong area of the team and as the Gaffer says, when you're in the team and playing well and you're winning, it is up to you to stay in the eleven.”
With 10 games to go in the Sky Bet League One season the Millers currently sit in second spot, but with the division tightly poised, Lindsay insists that standards of performance can’t afford to slip.
Saturday’s trip to Spotland presents Rotherham with another chance to secure three points and continue their fine form on the road, this time against Rochdale, but the former Ross County man is expecting another difficult challenge against a side that prevailed at the AESSEAL New York Stadium earlier in the campaign.
"It will be a tough game. They beat us the last time at home and they are towards the lower reaches of the league so they are fighting for everything, as we are,” Lindsay said.
"As every game in this league is, it will be tough and we expect a hard-fought contest game.
"We know how important every game is to us. MK Dons last weekend showed that even though they are down at the bottom end of the league, they are a good team. I think in this league anybody can beat anybody and we know that we need to be right on our game.”