Millwall defender Shaun Hutchinson is set for a spell on the sidelines after missing Sunday’s defeat to Rotherham United.

The 27-year-old missed the trip to the New York Stadium having sustained a knee injury and is set to be out for the “foreseeable future” according to NewsAtDen.

Sunday was the first time since April 2017 that Hutchinson had been missing from the Millwall starting XI, a run that stretched to 54 consecutive league fixtures, which includes the play-offs.

Vice-captain to Neil Harris’ side, the defender was unable to feature in the 1-0 defeat against Rotherham with Sean Raggett’s 20th-minute header the difference between the side.

Murray Wallace made his full league debut in place of the injured centre-half who missing from the Lions’ side for a chunk of fixtures heading into the busy winter period.

Speaking after the defeat, Harris said: “Hutch has got a knee problem and is going to be out for the foreseeable future.”

The Verdict

This is a massive blow for Millwall.

Shaun Hutchinson has been playing the best football of his career since he was able to shake off a flurry of injuries at the start to his Millwall stint to become a stalwart in the Lions' defence.

But with an injury, comes the opportunity for other players to make a case to be included and keep their place once the defender is back fit.

Murray Wallace and Byron Webster will be looking to make their mark and become a consistent part of Millwall’s backline for the foreseeable future with the 27-year-old missing.

Despite Hutchinson’s injury, Neil Harris has suitable replacements in Wallace and Webster, so whoever is installed as Jake Cooper’s partner, will undoubtedly be more than adequate to fill the void left by the Lions’ vice-captain.