Jamie Proctor banished almost a full year of injury misery as he netted a brace in Rotherham's 3-1 victory over Championship rivals Wigan in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
The striker missed the bulk of last season with a cruciate ligament injury but had a sweet return to first-team football as he scored either side of Semi Ajayi's header.
Rotherham took their first clear-cut chance of the game after 37 minutes when Sean Raggett's header was drilled into the bottom corner by Proctor.
he Latics, who had made eight changes, sprung into life after falling behind, with Jamie Walker striking just wide and Callum McManaman forcing a save from Lewis Price.
But the Millers went in at the break two ahead with Ajayi thundering a header in from Anthony Forde's 42nd-minute corner.
Wigan's best opportunities to get back into the game came either side of the half-time whistle with Gary Roberts rattling the crossbar and Walker forcing Price into a diving save.
Proctor secured Rotherham's passage through with the third in the 64th minute by glancing in a cross from Billy Jones and Wigan struck a consolation in the 74th minute when James Vaughan headed in Roberts' cross.