Rotherham United manager Paul Warne says Georgie Kelly is close to making his Millers bow following his winter switch from Bohemians.
The Donegal man signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the League One leaders in January but has yet to feature in a competitive game.
25-year-old Kelly was top scorer in the Premier Division in 2021 with 21 goals, a full six clear of his nearest rivals, as he struck up a fearsome partnership with Ross Tierney, now of Motherwell.
He was just the fifth player in ten years to pass the 20-goal mark in the Premier Division and his performance attracted attention from England, Scotland and Denmark.
The former Derry City, UCD and Dundalk striker, who also had a spell on loan with St Patrick’s Athletic in 2020, had his best season as Bohs reached the FAI Cup final.
He was only able to play 60 minutes of the Cup final, which the Athletic won on penalties, due to a niggling injury that dogged him in the final weeks of the season.
And the rigours of a full League of Ireland season have delayed his debut for Rotherham, who are flying high with Irish forwards Chiedozie Ogbene and JJ Kayode in form.
The Millers are stacked in the forward division with Northern Ireland striker Will Grigg, Freddie Ladapo and Michael Smith all competing for the number nine shirt.
But Warne reckons it’s only a matter of time before Kelly gets his chance and has urged the striker not to get frustrated as he awaits his chance to impress.
“He’s getting closer. You can ask Georgie, I’ve had many conversations with him. I think he’s doing really well and I don’t want him to beat himself up or get frustrated,” said Warne.
“As soon as I think he will help us to win, he will get his opportunity. There are very good players in front of him and he knows the competition.
“He’s come to a very good club and he’ll have a great future here, but in the meantime we’re just trying to improve him where we can and teach him how we play and what’s expected.”
