‘It all felt a little bit loose’ – Millwall midfielder Mitchell on ankle injury sustained at Coventry City

Millwall midfielder Billy Mitchell has spoken about the ankle injury he suffered at Coventry City and how he initially did not realise he had suffered a tear that would require an extended spell on the sidelines.

The 22-year-old midfielder is back in the Lions’ line-up and made his first start since mid-February in Monday’s 1-0 defeat at Hull City.

“I actually felt really good on the pitch on Monday, so that was a positive,” Mitchell told the South London Press. “There are absolutely no problems with the ankle.

“The day after the match it hits you (physically), but in a good way. I’m not moaning.”

Mitchell injured his ankle inside the opening 30 seconds at Coventry after a strong challenge from former Charlton youngster Kasey Palmer.

“I didn’t really feel anything at the time, it was more just an impact than anything,” said the Lions player.

“I came out for the second half and it all felt a little bit loose. I was tapping my foot on the floor – to try and get the muscles to activate and wake up a bit – but they weren’t having any of it.

“I didn’t feel too much pain in the game. Coincidentally I’d taken an ibuprofen sachet for a dead leg – which I never normally do. Maybe that, plus the adrenaline, took the edge off it.

“When I woke up the next morning it was massively swollen, so I knew I probably should get it checked out. It ended up being torn quite badly.

“You can’t really do a whole lot until the swelling subsides a little bit. Then I was in a boot for a few weeks, followed by a cast and then gradually you’re regaining the mobility in the ankle joint – where it’s swollen it becomes very stiff.

“Then it’s about restrengthening the muscles in the shin, calf and ankle to get it stable again.”

Mitchell potentially could have returned for the trip to West Brom at the start of this month.

“I was probably fit enough to play there but I’d only started full training on Monday of that week,” he said. “We had Monday, Tuesday and Thursday as full days of training and then Friday is very light.

“West Brom was the Saturday after the international break and I think the gaffer deemed it maybe a little too early to come back into the squad – plus the lads had been doing really well. You can’t really justify taking anyone out – plus I’d only had three-and-a-half days training.

“To go back into a high pressure game, in those circumstances, might have been a case of being thrown in at the deep end a little bit. He probably made the right decision to get some minutes against Burnley U21s and then a few minutes against Luton.”

See tomorrow’s South London Press for a full interview with Mitchell.