Mat Sadler insists he has no regrets at leaving Crawley despite making a swift return to the Checkatrade.com Stadium.

Sadler turned down a new contract at the end of last season to sign for Rotherham United but has been unable to force his way into the team at the New York Stadium.

The left-back rejoined Reds on loan for a month this week and will go straight into the team for today’s clash with Fleetwood Town.

Sadler said: “Life is all about challenges and going to Rotherham shows I am up for the challenge.

“I could have stayed at Crawley or gone to another League One club but I wanted to push myself.

“I have no regrets. You’ve got to be ambitious and I wanted the chance to test myself in the Championship.

“It’s funny the way things have worked out and that I’m back at Crawley so quickly but nothing has changed.

“I’m still a Rotherham player and my aim is to do well at Crawley over the next month to show the manager at Rotherham what I can do.”

Sadler has only made one appearance for Rotherham in the Capital One Cup against Swansea and has not even made the bench in their five Championship matches.

The 29-year-old admits it has been a frustrating start to life at the New York Stadium having been an ever present in the league for Crawley in the past two seasons.

Sadler added: “Any footballer will tell you that it is horrible when you are not playing but it is even worse for me as I have been used to playing every week for the last four years.

“But I was aware that I was putting that record on the line by leaving Crawley rather than settling for what might have been a more comfortable life.

“I’m just desperate to play football matches again so coming back to Crawley is the perfect solution for me at the moment.

“We’ve got seven games in the next 30 days and that will give me the opportunity to get match fitness so that when I go back to Rotherham I am ready to play if needed.

“I just can’t wait to get back out there on the pitch.

“I’ve been preparing for games up at Rotherham and then when you find out on matchday that you are not playing it hurts.”

Although Sadler has only been gone for four months he returns to a very different club to the one he left.

Only three players – Joe Walsh, Gwion Edwards and Josh Simpson – remain from last season while the pitch is hardly recognisable to the sandpit it became after Christmas.

“The gaffer was joking that they sorted out that side of the pitch just for me!” joked Sadler. “Obviously there have been lots of changes but it is still good that I am somewhere familiar.

“It can be hard going out on loan to a new club but as I know Crawley so well hopefully I will slot straight back in as if I’ve not been away.

“I’m desperate to do well for the club because I had such a good two years at Crawley but I’m also desperate to do well for myself to show Rotherham what I can do.”