Millwall v Portsmouth Team News with 2 doubts and 12 outs as John Mousinho eyes attacking boost
Alex Neil looks for a strong finish to the season but remains without some key attacking outlets for Millwall.
Millwall look to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat to promotion-chasing Sunderland at the Stadium of Light against Portsmouth in front of the home faithful at The Den this weekend.
The London outfit look comfortable in mid-table with 51 points, 13 points above the drop zone, but Alex Neil will be determined to finish the campaign strongly before his first summer in charge at the club. A Pompey side buoyed by a 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers last weekend is next up for the Lions.
Millwall have faced Portsmouth twice already this season, once in the league and once in the Carabao Cup, winning both of those fixtures 1-0 at Fratton Park. Here’s your Millwall v Portsmouth team news.
Millwall team news
George Honeyman is making ‘decent progress’ from an injury that has kept him out against Stoke City and Sunderland. He was a doubt ahead of facing the Black Cats but should be closer to a return against Portsmouth.
Femi Azeez and Camiel Neghli are key attacking outlets on the flanks but, in a fresh update, Alex Neil has confirmed that both the players are still a little way away from a return. He said: “He [Neghli] is at least two weeks away. Him and Femi will be lucky if they make the last three or four games.
“When those two lads have been fit, predominantly they’ve played wide left, wide right. When you’re missing maybe two out of your front three players, that’s always tough.
“But what it does do is it gives the little lads an opportunity and a chance to come in. Aidomo’s done well in some of the games previously, Aaron Connolly’s done well in some of the games previously.
“I think just unfortunately both of them seem more comfortable off the left than they do off the right. With Ra’ees missing the last game as well, it limited our options in terms of that right side. Although Aaron did it, he’d much rather play off the left if he could.”
Danny McNamara won’t play again this season having undergone surgery on a knee problem. Liverpool loanee Calum Scanlon has also seen his time at The Den come to an end with a ‘really bad hamstring injury’.
Goalkeeper Liam Roberts will serve his sixth and final suspended game for the red card picked up in the FA Cup against Crystal Palace for his clash with Jean-Phillipe Mateta. The shot-stopper can return against Sheffield United next week.
Doubts – George Honeyman. Outs – Femi Azeez, Camiel Neghli, Danny McNamara, Callum Scanlon, Liam Roberts.
Portsmouth team news
There were fears over an injury picked up by Portsmouth winger Kusini Yengi when on international duty with Australia. The 26-year-old was absent against Blackburn Rovers but has since been pictured in first team training and could return from that minor problem against Millwall.
Ibane Bowat won’t play again this season with the defender having picked up a serious knee injury in September. Jacob Farrell is also a long-term absentee and top scorer Callum Lang is out for the rest of the campaign. Paddy Lane and Hayden Matthews also won’t be seen again this season.
Conor Shaughnessy is making good progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury but The News only expects the centre-back to resume training this month so a return to action this weekend likely comes too soon. Bristol City loanee Rob Atkinson is ‘a few weeks behind’ Shaughnessy.
Doubts – Kusini Yengi. Outs – Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell, Callum Lang, Paddy Lane, Hayden Matthews, Conor Shaughnessy, Rob Atkinson.
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