Millwall have made it a priority to sign a backup goalkeeper before Friday's deadline, after an injury setback to Frank Fielding.

Reported by London News Online, Fielding has to undergo surgery on his arm after sustaining a bicep injury, which will rule the 31-year-old out for up to four months.

“It is rotten luck for Frankie again. It’s difficult for the club and also is very tough for him," Gary Rowett said.

The stopper had planned to return for Millwall in their recent FA Cup tie against Sheffield United after being sidelined since the first game of the season with a quad injury.

However, the unfortunate news means that Millwall's only backup goalkeeper that is available to them is 20-year-old academy product Ryan Sandford, who was named on the bench in Tuesday night's 3-2 loss to Leeds United.

With Luke Steele returning to Nottingham Forest at the beginning of the month after his loan spell with the Lions ended, Gary Rowett added that the club are actively looking for another goalkeeper to make up the numbers.

"Of course we’d like to do something inside the window and have two senior keepers in the building – not only as competition for places but also to give good back up should the worst happen," the Millwall boss said.

QUIZ: Can you name every Millwall player's shirt number?

The Verdict

It is a very unfortunate situation for Frank Fielding, whose season is now effectively over after playing just one game for Millwall since signing for the club in the summer.

With the 31-year-old now out for the long-term, the club now has to prioritise signing a backup to Bartosz Bialkowski, with the Pole currently the only senior goalkeeper at The Den.

However, if a deal does not get completed before Friday's deadline, Millwall may be eligible to sign a goalkeeper on an emergency loan deal outside of the window for a short period.