KEVIN Nisbet is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after picking up a “significant” hamstring issue.
Millwall boss Joe Edwards expects him to miss two months at a “minimum” in a blow to the Lions.
The Scottish striker, who suffered a serious ACL injury at his former club Hibernian, is not expected to need surgery.
But the long spell on the sidelines and the lack of game time will not help his bid to be part of Scotland’s squad for the 2024 European Championship in the summer.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference today ahead of Millwall’s trip to Coventry City on Sunday, Lions head coach Edwards said: “We don’t have a real clear update on him other than it’s definitely minimum couple of months. So I definitely wouldn’t sit here now and rule him out until the end of the season but if he is to feature again, it would be the back end of it for sure. As I said, it’s a significant one he’s got on his hamstring.
“At the moment, we’re in a position where it looks like it doesn’t need surgery which is always a plus. But having said it’s still a significant injury so he’s out for a while.”
The bad news continued as Edwards revealed that club captain Shaun Hutchinson, who has made just nine league appearances this season, has had a “setback” with his calf.
Hutchinson, 33, returned to the bench for last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Hull City having missed the previous three games due to injury but he will now miss a further “few weeks”.
Edwards said: “Shaun Hutchinson has had a bit of a setback with his calf. He did rejoin training at the start of the week but he’s had a setback so Hutch is probably looking at a few weeks, which is disappointing.”
The Millwall head coach also offered updates on Ryan Longman, Aidomo Emakhu and Ryan Leonard, with only the latter expected to return for the visit to the CBS Arena in two days.
Edwards added: “Ryan Longman trained today with the group on a modified [schedule]. The nature of his injury was his shoulder but he trained and got through it so he’ll now be looking to step that up and probably push for next midweek [against Ipswich Town]. So we’ll have to see how it goes. Coventry comes a bit too soon for Longy but he’s back amongst us.
“Aidomo, similar. A little bit slower, maybe pushing for next weekend. Rejoining the group and training properly at the start of next week.
“Ryan Leonard got a full week of training under his belt this week so he’s fit for selection again.”