SOUTHAMPTON
JAMIE PROCTOR has emerged from a 12-month injury nightmare determined to make up for lost time – by banging in the goals that can clinch Championship survival for Rotherham.
The Millers hitman (below) was sidelined for a year after needing surgery to repair the knee ligaments he ruptured against Charlton just six games into last season.
And, ahead of notching two goals on his comeback in United’s 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Wigan 12 days ago, the closest Proctor, 26, had come to any action was when big-hearted boss Paul Warne showed there is sentiment in football by letting him lead out the team for their League One play-off final victory against Shrewsbury at Wembley in May.
Now, after impressing and scoring as a sub in his side’s 3-2 home defeat by Yorkshire rivals Hull last Tuesday, Proctor is set to start against Millwall in today’s lunchtime game at New York Stadium.
And Warne admitted: ”It’s absolutely wonderful to have Jamie back in action after being sat out for so long.
“You don’t get many years as a professional footballer, maybe 15 if you are lucky, and he’s missed one through injury, which is horrible for him.
“But he has worked so hard on his fitness in pre-season and he wants to do well and score goals for this football club.” WHISPERING Claude Puel rarely shows any emotion, let alone leap and jump for joy on a pitch.
But the Leicester boss did exactly that when celebrating Harry Maguire’s last-gasp longrange winner against the club that sacked Puel 14 months ago.
How he must wish Leicester and Southampton played every week. In five meetings between the two clubs he has yet to lose.
Maguire’s 92nd-minute effort, allied to Demarai Gray’s earlier strike, was enough to secure him a third victory in this ‘Puel’ derby as his visitors came from behind in dramatic fashion.
On his ecstatic reaction, the King Power supremo said: “It is good sometimes but my personality is unimportant.
“It is my players’ reaction on