Alex Neil confirms frustrating Millwall player issue | OneFootball

Romain Esse has become the latest man on the sidelines at Millwall this season

Millwall head coach Alex Neil has confirmed that Romain Esse has become the latest long-term injury absentee at The Den, with the returning loanee set to be out until "well after the international break" with an ankle issue.

It's been a nightmare start to the campaign on the injury front for last season's play-off semi-finalists, who have been the biggest victims of the packed schedule to start the campaign.

Millwall have had to contend with as many as 16 first-team absences in games already this season, and in their 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough on Tuesday night - their fourth straight midweek outing - they missed 13.

Alex Neil's remaining players are being pushed as far as they can go, and it's resulted in yet another long-term injury for one of their main arrivals this summer.

Romain Esse is set to be out until "well after the international break"

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One of the more recent absences saw returning loanee Romain Esse miss Tuesday night's draw at the Riverside with an ankle injury.

The 21-year-old returned to the Den this summer, 18 months on from leaving the club he came through the academy with to join Premier League side Crystal Palace in a deal worth £12 million - a record sale for Millwall at the time.

After struggling to make an impact at Selhurst Park and playing a supporting role in helping Coventry City win the Championship in the second half of last season, he returned to his former side on loan this summer, but has been sidelined after just three appearances.

Speaking after the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough, per Southwark News, Millwall boss Alex Neil was once again breaking bad news on the injury front, this time regarding Esse.

"It’s his ankle. He’s hurt his ankle, and we need to get the extent of that injury. It’s going to be well after the international break, I believe," he said. "It’s hard to put a timeline on it just now."

How Millwall fans reacted to yet another injury issue

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It's a surprise that Alex Neil can field a full starting eleven of senior players at this point, and Millwall fans are beyond frustrated at what is looking to be another campaign marred by an injury crisis.

One fan on X expressed their concern about the whole season being "derailled" if this continues, stating, "ANOTHER INJURY. This has to be externally investigated - it’s on course to completely derail the season. You’ll have nobody turning up to games."

One fan questioned the surface at their training ground. "What is going on!? Is the turf at Calmont [Road] held on with Velcro?" they commented. Another added, "Something is seriously wrong on the training ground or physio department."

Others have gotten to the point where they're finding it pathetically funny how many injuries they're picking up in the infancy of the campaign. One commented, "I might ask the club if they need a bandage supplier, there’s money to be made here." While another joked that their "86th choice" striker Lyndon Dykes was going to "get player of the year."

Millwall's injury crisis has come at a terrible time, with West Ham United on the horizon

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The fact that Millwall still sit inside the top half and, at half-time on Tuesday night, were in the top six, while also mounting a run to the EFL Cup third round while undergoing this injury crisis, is very impressive.

They had a similar issue in terms of not having fit midfielders throughout the majority of last season, too, and still finished one point off the automatic promotion positions. From that perspective, Alex Neil is doing a very good job of keeping the Lions competitive.

However, there's no doubt that the sheer volume of injuries is concerning, both from a player welfare point and because they could easily be amongst the best sides in the division if everyone were fit.

Millwall are heading into big games at not even half-strength, and they don't get any bigger than this Saturday's battle at the Den against West Ham United in the first meeting between the old rivals in over 14 years.

The Hammers have started to find their feet back in the second tier, winning their last four games to climb to the Championship's summit. Saturday was always going to be a difficult game, given the opposition, but the injury issues at Millwall will make it even more challenging.

Anything can happen in a derby, but with the number of absentees at the Den currently, you have to feel that the advantage lies with Nuno Espírito Santo's side this weekend.