Millwall defender Byron Webster on his future – and the fight back to fitness after major knee surgery

Byron Webster is confident he will make a full recovery from knee surgery – but is setting no timescale on a return.

The Millwall centre-back is expected to miss at least six months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.

Webster did the injury in the first-half of the 3-1 defeat to Barnsley at the end of September but stayed on to play the entire 90 minute.

“It is a serious injury but the way I am looking at it is that I finished the game – which was crazy,” he exclusively told the South London Press. “Because it is an isolated ACL injury I’m in a positive mindset at the moment.

“Roy Keane did his years ago and had a good career. Alan Shearer, Nemanja Vidic, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Yannick Bolasie have all done it as well. That’s why I’m happy our physio Paul Tanner knows such a good surgeon [Andy Williams].

“There’s no timescale. The rest of the knee is perfect – apart from the main bit. I could be back in six months but I’m not putting any pressure on myself do that.

“It’s a selfish thing. I’ll be back when I’m ready. I know I will come back because I completed the game and my ACL was gone. I don’t know if that is a credit to myself, my body or my legs.

“Everyone is different. Willo [Shaun Williams] is out now with an injury – he carried on the game and I think Franck Ribery did exactly the same one and he came off.”

Webster is out of contract at the end of the season. Contract talks were expected to start with the Lions but they are on ice until he regains fitness.

“Does my future worry me? I suppose it is always a worry. I’ve got a family and kids to look after.

“What will be, will be. Is there loyalty in football? There is a to a certain extent but when you’re surplus to requirements then you’re surplus to requirements. It doesn’t matter who you are. I’ll leave that to my agents to sort out, then speak to the club.

“When there are ups in football you have everyone contact you. But when it’s bad – injuries, results or performances – you do find out who really cares. I’ve had some old managers call me and people at former clubs, they didn’t need to do that.”