Millwall boss Neil Harris provides injury update on key man – and why striker started against QPR U23s

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Millwall boss Neil Harris has provided an injury update on Shaun Williams.

The Republic of Ireland international damaged ankle ligaments in the 1-1 draw at Bristol City at the start of this month.

Williams has sat out the last two matches and is not expected back until 2019.

Harris said: “Willo is on schedule. We won’t see him over the Christmas period.

“He has come out of the protective boot he has had on. It is about letting the ligaments in the ankle heal. He can do a bit of upper body work in the gym but there is not a lot else he can do until he can get on the foot and get moving again.

“It is just intensive treatment at this stage.

“It is when he is able to put pressure through the foot and walk on the foot again which will be the next step.”

Harris gave striker Tom Elliott a 60-minute runout for the Lions’ U23 side earlier this week against QPR at Calmont Road.

The striker had been out with a hamstring injury but made late sub appearances against Hull City and Preston.

“It was just an opportunity to get some minutes in to him and Murray Wallace,” said Harris. “Murray hasn’t played centre-half fo a while.

“We just felt with Tom’s size and frame, where he hadn’t started or got a good chunk of minutes for a while, that he needed to get those football movements again. It is fine doing all the training but some people need minutes more than others. I’m sure Tom will benefit from it.”