Millwall midfielder Billy Mitchell's return from a long-term hamstring might be delayed following a minor setback whilst playing for the club's Under-23s on Tuesday afternoon.

Mitchell suffered a major hamstring problem during the Lions' pre-season training camp of Scotland back in August, which ruled him out until November.

However, the 19-year-old has made two appearances for Kevin Nugent's Young Lions in recent weeks, and having come through unscathed, looked on course to be back in first-team contention.

But in Mitchell's third outing for the Under-23s, yesterday's defeat to Wigan, the captain was replaced at the break, although Millwall boss Gary Rowett, who was in attendance at the Lions' Calmont Road training ground, revealed that it was just "precaution".

The Lions boss couldn't reveal whether the midfielder will be in the running to face Cardiff City this weekend, however.

 

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"We just brought him off as a precaution at half-time," he told NewsatDen. "So we'll see how he reacts. He's done a lot of training recently in a desperate attempt to get back up to speed.

"He was certainly flying in the first half and has played some minutes now. When we feel he's ready Billy will certainly come back into contention."

 

The Verdict

Hamstring injuries are very delicate, so hopefully this is nothing too serious for Mitchell.

With games coming thick and fast up until Christmas, Rowett is going to need everyone fit and available, and with Kenneth Zohore recently ruled out until late-December, he won't want any more bad news on the injury front.

And whilst it appears that Mitchell might miss Cardiff's trip to The Den on Saturday, hopefully it's nothing more than a minor setback.