Millwall handed double injury concern ahead of Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday

Millwall look for a first Championship win in four fixtures this weekend as league action returns with a visit to Portsmouth following the international break.

Alex Neil’s side still cling on to a play-off space at this early stage of the season in sixth place but have not recorded a win since the 1-0 win over Leicester City at the end of August. Since then, the Lions have drawn against Oxford United and Preston North End, as well as being beaten 4-0 by Birmingham City.

Millwall take on 20th place Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon and Neil could be without two first team stars following injuries on international duty.

Millwall managing injury concerns

Mihailo Ivanovic and Daniel Kelly were called up to represent Serbia and the Scotland under-21s but the duo dropped out of the squads prior to the first game of the break and returned to Millwall. Ahead of the weekend, Neil has provided an update to NewsAtDen.

Kelly had missed a chunk of the season with a hamstring injury between September and the start of November. The midfielder returned to the matchday squad against Birmingham City and was then handed a one minute cameo against Preston North End. Ivanovic is reported to have picked up a knock in the meeting with the Lilywhites too.

Neil said: “Both of the lads picked up knocks. Dan is still feeling his quad and his hamstring. He didn’t really train enough for us to involve him in the last game, but we did because we had a lack of numbers in that area.

“Mihailo went down and sort of looked as if he twisted his knee. He got another kick on his ankle as well. So there were a couple of little bits and bobs for him that, unfortunately, they haven’t done as much training as we would’ve liked.”

Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday up next for Lions

Millwall will hope that both of those are just minor concerns and not come with time on the sidelines, but players will have to be managed with fixtures coming thick and fast. Should Ivanovic or Kelly miss out against Portsmouth on Saturday, they will also be a doubt for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday next Wednesday.

When asked if Portsmouth may come too soon, Neil said: “We’ll see how the rest of the week pans out. We’re expecting him [Ivanovic] to train today, so we’ll see how he looks today. But I don’t want to say yeah and then he’s not available. Or vice versa.”

Any absence of Ivanovic would be a particular boost to Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday, who have conceded 20 and 29 goals so far this season respectively. Ivanovic scored 12 Championship goals last season and, after a difficult start to this term, bagged the important equaliser against Preston North End last time out.

In other news, Tim Sherwood slams Tottenham for ex-player treatment as ex Millwall star in tears on international duty.