Will Miller is benefiting from the advice of Burton Albion club captain Shaun Barker as he aims to get back in time for the Brewers' pre-season preparations.

The 21-year-old Albion forward saw his campaign ended prematurely after detaching a knee cap in the 3-1 loss to Queens Park Rangers in January.

The injury required surgery and means he will not feature again before the summer.

Will Miller tracks Chris Gunter
Will Miller tracks Chris Gunter

It is a frustrating setback for the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man, who had enjoyed a consistent run in the side as Burton side during a profitable festive period , having missed the first part of the campaign with hamstring problems.

But working with Barker - who came back to play for Albion after more than four years out with a horrific knee injury - is likely to help Miller in his bid to get back as strong as ever, according to Nigel Clough.

"He (Miller) comes in, we see him quite regularly and he does what he can," said the Brewers manager.

"He's at the early stages of his rehabilitation, so it's always nice to see him.

"Everything has gone as well as it could've done with the operation - he's just got that long trek back to full fitness now.

Burton Albion's Shaun Barker
Burton Albion's Shaun Barker

"But when you have something to aim for as he has, we're back in the end of June, beginning of July, then that is his target.

"He's got a target of four months to do everything he can to be fit for that.

"With Shaun Barker being around, if anyone wants anything on rehab, Shaun actually helps all the players with things like that when they're out for a significant amount of time.

"It's invaluable to have that experience around."

Burton's club captain also played an important role in helping Liam Boyce back to action after the Brewers' record signing ruptured an ACL in pre-season.

Liam Boyce in action on his Burton Albion against Aston Villa

Barker's insight is an unique one. He suffered a potentially career-ending knee injury after dislocating his kneecap and sustaining serious ligament damage for Derby in a meeting with Nottingham Forest in March 2012.

And for Boyce, being able to draw on what Barker went through during his long and arduous rehab was inspiration to return for the Brewers quicker than expected.

"He has been unbelievable," said Boyce.

"Some days he would take me for training in the gym.

"Because you can get all the strength back in your legs that you want, you can be the strongest, but if your body is not tuned in when you're doing an awkward turn or your muscles aren't turning on and switching on.

"He was the one keeping me in awkward positions so my body was strong in those positions for when I came back.

"It's not only the physical side, but him talking to me and what he has been through, it just made everything feel like mine was nothing to what he has been through.

"It sort of gives you that hope that if he can come through that and come back and play, then it should be easy for me if mine wasn't as bad."