Millwall vs Watford early team news as 3 doubts and 4 outs of Championship opener

Millwall defender Tanganga is suspended.Millwall defender Tanganga is suspended.
Millwall defender Tanganga is suspended. | Getty Images
The second tier whirrs into life once again this weekend with Millwall welcoming Watford to The Den.

Millwall kick off the new Championship campaign in front of a home crowd at The Valley as Watford arrive as the first visitors of the campaign.

Neil Harris successfully steered the London outfit away from relegation last time out but will be hoping for a strong start to avoid another survival dogfight this term.

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LondonWorld looks through the early team news ahead of Saturday.

Millwall team news

Millwall will certainly be without summer signing Japhet Tanganga for the visit of Watford. The former Tottenham Hotspur defender, who signed a two-year deal with the Lions as a free agent after last season's loan spell, is suspended.

The 25-year-old saw red in the 85th minute of Millwall's final match of the season against Swansea City last term. The three-match ban will be served at the start of this season.

Last season's Championship top scorer for the club, Zian Flemming, is a doubt heading into the opening weekend. The 26-year-old was absent from the squad for last weekend's friendly against Southampton as he nurses a calf niggle.

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Millwall striker Zian Flemming.Millwall striker Zian Flemming.
Millwall striker Zian Flemming. | Getty Images

Midfielder Billy Mitchell was also sidelined for that warm-up game with an injury. Speaking back in July, Neil Harris admitted that the player was facing a race against time to be fit for Watford.

He told NewsAtDen: “Billy Mitchell has got a thigh injury and a muscle tear in his quad. Quads, hamstrings and calves are very problematic over the pre-season period and we’re unfortunate that Billy has picked up that injury but we’re hoping he’s not going to miss too much of the season. I’m not going to put a timescale on it but he won’t be fit for Watford.” 

Adam Mayor and goalkeeper Connal Trueman will both miss out having been ruled out for two months in July. Harris said: “Connal Trueman has unfortunately rolled his ankle. It’s a real, real bizarre one. Soft tissue injuries are obviously hated by us but are absolutely normal, so Adam’s hamstring is no surprise."

Watford team news

Watford could be without captain and defensive marshal Wesley Hoedt for the short trip down to London. The centre-back was forced off with injury during a pre-season meeting with Wycombe Wanderers at the end of July and missed out against Brentford last weekend.

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Tom Cleverley said: “Wes tells me he’s a quick healer. So we’re hoping that it’s not too long because he’s important to us. It’s a knee issue and it’s hopefully weeks rather than months, and I’m told by Wes himself that he is a quick healer.”

The Hornets have signed Celtic forward Rocco Vata this summer but the striker missed that meeting with Brentford due to illness which 'took it out of him', according to Cleverley.

Chile international Francisco Sierralta and midfielder Ken Sema had been recovering from injuries but did play against Brentford so should be given the green light again for Millwall.

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