Millwall key man expected to resume training this week

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Shaun Hutchinson was expected to resume full training this week after missing Millwall’s pre-season opener at Dartford with a calf injury.

Last season’s Player of the Year sat out the 5-0 victory at Princes Park with George Saville (back) also not involved.

The other notable absentee was young centre-back Sid Nelson, who is recovering from an ankle injury suffered while on loan at Chesterfield. Millwall’s squad travel to 

Portugal on Wednesday for six days, during which they will play two matches against Portuguese teams.

“Hutch had a tight calf so he just worked over the last few days with the sports science  team,” said Lions manager Neil Harris. “He’ll be back into full training this week.

“At this stage of pre-season there are still a lot of minutes to play and time to get fit. I didn’t take the risk of including him but he won’t play in a behind-closed-doors game on Tuesday [today]. He will be in Portugal.

“Sav will play [today]. He was just unlucky his back stiffened up on Friday morning, it just came at completely the wrong time. He’ll be okay to play 45 minutes.

“Sid will be back in full training this week and is a little bit ahead of schedule but he is a few weeks behind the boys in the first-team. He won’t be coming to Portugal because he won’t be ready to take part in any games. He’ll be back in friendly action when we get back.”