SHANE Redmond plans to spend much of Christmas making sure he stays fit after having his broken finger put in a plaster cast.

Burton Albion's on-loan Irish goalkeeper has had the shine taken off his festive season by the injury, which he sustained in the first half of Saturday's 2-2 draw at Rotherham United.

Initial reports suggested Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Redmond, 20, had broken his hand, with a possible break to a finger as well.

The full diagnosis now is a broken little finger – but it is quite a bad break and Redmond will go well beyond Christmas without risking catching a football.

"I've got quite a dramatic pot on it, for saying it's only my baby finger," said Redmond, after visiting the medical people at his parent club, Nottingham Forest, yesterday.

"It's the bone between the knuckle and the next joint that's broken.

"At first, I was quite hopeful that they could strap two of my fingers together, then I could wear a special glove and get on with it.

"But the specialist laughed at me when I told him that!

"He said if I risked making it any worse I'd be in trouble and I suppose, especially as a goalkeeper, I've got to look after my fingers as they're the only ones I've got."

Redmond hails from just outside Dublin but says his trip home for Christmas may only be restricted to a couple of days.

"I hope to get a few days off but my preference will be to keep working hard at home to keep my strength up and make sure I don't put any weight on," he said.

"The plan is to get the cast off in about two weeks, then I can work on getting the movement and strength back in my fingers.

"They say it will be six weeks before I'm catching balls again and I just hope I can get back by the end of January."

The injury came just as Redmond was establishing himself in the Burton side after a hip injury to first-choice Artur Krysiak gave him a second chance.

He made two bad mistakes, which led to goals, in the first game of the season against Shrewsbury Town and lost his place.

But supporters were starting to warm to him after he took that blow on the chin, worked hard in training and had looked thoroughly accomplished in three games since his recall.

"It's been nice to hear the fans shout my name a few times," said Redmond, who has 15 caps for the Republic's Under-21s.

With their next match not until March, he is hoping not to miss out on the chance of more.

"I wouldn't have wanted to leave Burton with just that Shrewsbury game as a memory," he said.

"I was delighted to get back playing and prove I'm better than what I showed against Shrewsbury.

"So now the injury is a big disappointment. It's the worst one I've ever had – I'd not broken any bone in my body before."

Set on a career in professional football, Redmond has been with Forest since he was only 15.

"I've seen the highs and lows of football with them," he said.

"They were relegated to League One when I first arrived, then I was involved when they got promoted."

He also saw highs on loan at Eastwood Town last season, playing a big part in the Badgers' fine run to the third round of the FA Cup.

Redmond attaches no blame to Rotherham striker Adam Le Fondre for his injury, incurred when he dived at Le Fondre's feet in the first half.

"It was a one-on-one and the ball was there to be won, so I've no problem with that," he added.