Major injury blow for Millwall as goalkeeper Jensen poised for lengthy spell on sidelines
Millwall goalkeeper Lukas Jensen is set to be missing for a lengthy period of time after suffering an achilles injury.
The Danish stopper did not feature in Friday’s 4-1 Championship loss to Blackburn Rovers.
Jensen and back-up Liam Roberts (hip flexor) are both unavailable and that meant youngster George Evans played at Ewood Park.
Millwall are yet to put a timescale on Jensen’s injury but it is set to mean an extended spell on the sidelines which could also force them to strengthen that position in the summer transfer window.
The 26-year-old was signed from Lincoln City in July.
The Lions suffered the shock passing of Matija Sarkic in the summer and Jensen arrived to take on the number one spot.
He has kept 15 clean sheets in 43 matches in all competitions.
Jensen’s last action of this season was a shutout in the 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough at The Den. He made a vital late save to deny Marcus Forss.
Asked by the South London Press last week to assess Jensen’s first campaign with the Lions, head coach Alex Neil said: “He’s grown in stature and in confidence in himself in terms of what he’s capable of at the level.
“He’s really quite ambitious, which is a good thing. He’s not content just being a good goalkeeper at Championship level – he wants to push himself. There are aspects of his game which have improved enormously this season.
“I still think there are aspects of his game we need to try to get a bit better. Overall, he’s had a great season. More importantly, Saturday (against Boro) wasn’t one of those games where it was save after save after save. Sometimes when you need a goalkeeper in one moment, they’re the ones that get you points.
“Lukas certainly helped us to get points at the weekend.”
On a number of occasions Millwall players have urged Jensen to sweep off his line more aggressively.
Neil said: “It is a decision for him to make. We do want him to be starting high so if they do decide to put the ball in behind us the gap between him and the defence isn’t too big. He is quite comfortable doing that.
“What we always say to him is once he gets there if a pass is on fine but if he feels he needs to clear the danger then do so. From crosses it is just growing in confidence to come and collect the ball – understanding when there is traffic and when there isn’t traffic.
“There are loads of different dynamics – how far the cross is, players in his way, if they have got a key header of the ball then does he need to get involved? I’ve seen enough improvement in a short space of time that all the bits we feel Lukas needs to improve on, I’m pretty certain they are going to happen.”
PICTURE: BRIAN TONKS
