Millwall boss tight-lipped on crucial injury boost ahead of Portsmouth contest
Pompey welcome Millwall to Fratton Park on Saturday afternoon.
Alex Neil has revealed Millwall will be boosted by the injury return of one key figure for Saturday’s trip to Pompey.
But the Scot remained tight-lipped over who could bolster his ranks at Fratton Park for the Lions’ encounter.
After finishing third in the Championship last term, it’s been a slow start to the new campaign at The Den, with the south London side making the trip to PO4 level on points with the Blues.
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The Lions have, though, struggled with injuries - like Pompey - in the opening weeks, with seven players sidelined for their 2-2 draw against newly-promoted Lincoln City last time out.
Millwall boss tight-lipped on injury return for Pompey
Meanwhile, Mihailo Ivanovic, Lukas Jensen, Massimo Luongo, Casper De Norre, Josh Coburn, Tairyk Arconte and Mathias Servais also missed the stalemate with the Imps.
But Neil is confident he will have one player from his injured cohort returning on Saturday in a timely boost for the trip to Fratton Park. However, the the Lions boss was not willing to share which player would complete their comeback.
Speaking to BBC Radio London, the head coach said: I like the way you phrased that, what positive news can I give you?
‘I can give you the fact that we should have another body back by the weekend, so there’s a positive for you. But we are okay.’
Then when asked if Neil would disclose the returning play, he replied: ‘No.’
Millwall’s slow start addressed
Although Millwall have had their injury issues, Pompey are still in the midst of their injury crisis, which will likely force John Mousinho to name two goalkeepers on the bench for the fourth successive match.
The Blues, however, are on a good run of form, having lost just one of their previous six league matches.
Millwall, meanwhile, have failed to replicate their impressive run of results which saw them secure a play-off finish last term.
And Neil is adamant injuries and availability have heavily affected his side in the opening weeks of the campaign.
‘I’m not quite sure to be honest. Once we have everyone back, we’ll naturally have more strength in depth, more options, we’ll have more variety with how we can set the team up.
‘I wouldn’t say we’ve had a full squad at any point this season so I think it would be reminisce to say then we’ve been at full strength and what we’re seeing so far is what we’re going to get to.
‘We did have a lot of coming and goings in the summer, that’s a lot of turn in terms of bodies coming into the building.
‘I think the frustrating thing is that they haven’t been available at the same time. When we’ve got that, that allows me to pick what the best balance of the team is.’