Manager Neil Harris has given his pre Johnstone’s Paint Trophy press conference and revealed that Millwall have 16 eligible players for the encounter against Northampton.
Others have beaten me to ‘cobbled together’ jokes when it comes to the match day squad.
In quotes carried by the South London Press ahead of the game tonight, Harris revealed that the short on numbers squad was owing to injuries, international call ups and Shaun Williams also finds himself suspended for the match.
Following the five three loss to Peterborough last weekend, Williams picked up a fifth yellow card of the season so he serves an automatic one match ban tonight, and we also lost Ed Upson to a knee injury and Jimmy Abdou to a shoulder problem and even if passed fit (not likely) the sensible option would be to not risk them.
David Forde is in the Republic of Ireland squad, Shane Ferguson is with Northern Ireland and have already left and striker Lee Gregory continues to be a doubt following course of painkilling injections and oxygen he’s been on following heavy bruising to his ribs in the two all draw with Wigan the other week.
Having come on as a late sub against Peterborough, he took another blow to his midrift so his inclusion is by no means guaranteed it seems.
The gaffer explained.
‘I will only have 16 players available for the Northampton game, so it is just as well only five substitutes are allowed for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. We are missing four players in midfield. We will definitely have a change in personnel because of that, the call-ups and Shaun`s suspension.’
Harris went on to say that he’d said after the last game injuries were becoming an important battle for us, but in any event we’ll battle on and look to get a result that puts us through to the next round and one step closer once more to Wembley.
‘I said after the game that the injuries were important for us against Peterborough. Jimmy is important to the team. He is key. He has been for a long time. We lost him early in the game, in the fifth minute, and if you do, it is always hard. We got back to 2-2 and were bossing the game and played some outstanding football and then we lost Ed. It was a shame but we should be able to deal with that.’
As for Gregory, Harris admitted he had played through the pain barrier at the weekend but obviously he can’t keep doing that.
‘Lee played through injury on Tuesday and Saturday so we will have to see whether it is a good idea to play him in the cup. They will all have 10 days to regroup after this match. The game will be a great chance for players who have not been in the team to impress – to come in and stake a claim. Northampton are a settled League Two team with good individuals. It is at The Den so we are looking forward to it.’
Harris will be definitely hoping that those selected who haven’t featured a lot yet will pose him a question or two with their performances.
Vital Millwall on:
Vital Millwall on:
JPT Side Picks Itself – Harris
