Millwall boss will make changes for Portsmouth EFL Cup tie but left ‘very limited’ by lack of options

Millwall head coach Neil Harris says that he will make changes for tomorrow night’s EFL Cup game against Portsmouth but that a lack of squad depth means it will not be as wholesale as most other clubs in the competition.

The Lions head to Fratton Park with Japhet Tanganga serving the second match of his suspension. Zian Flemming, Murray Wallace, Billy Mitchell, Adam Mayor and Niino Adom-Malaki are all injured.

It is expected that summer signing Macaulay Langstaff, who made his debut as a second-half substitute in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Watford, will make his first start.

Aidomo Emakhu, 20, was also bright after his introduction against the Hornets, his cross leading to Duncan Watmore making it 2-2 at The Den.

Harris, who is keen to see additions to his playing personnel as soon as possible, said: “The most important game is next Saturday, at Bristol, so yes we will need to make changes.

“Obviously we are very limited in our changes because we are very limited in our squad. It is a huge frustration for everybody at the moment. We’ll have to assess tomorrow (Sunday) at Calmont to see who is fit and who is not. Someone like Ryan Leonard, we’ll have to see where he is at.

“There will be some experienced players, ageing players, that will struggle to play again on Tuesday – that’s the nature of the beast and I understand that.

“We are very limited in our options and it is important that we don’t lose any more players to injury but also making sure we are competitive and do the competition – and travelling fans – justice on Tuesday evening.

“It won’t just be 11 changes, like most teams will make, we’re not in that position – we’ll probably make less changes than any other football club in the country because that is where we’re at at this moment.”

Asked about Emakhu, Harris said: “He did well when he came on. His best football in a Millwall shirt has been impacting from the bench, at a young age. He came on and made a really good impact.

“Yes, Aidomo is certainly one that comes into the thinking for Tuesday night