Neil provides update on Coburn return and explains defender’s absence against Newcastle | OneFootball

Alex Neil has confirmed Josh Coburn will not return before the international break as Millwall continue to contend with a lengthy injury list.

Coburn was again absent as the Lions were knocked out of the Carabao Cup following a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle at The Den, and Neil ruled out the striker returning until at least next month.

Asked whether Coburn could be back before the international break, Neil replied: “Not this side of the international break. No.”

Derek Mazou-Sacko was not named in the squad against Newcastle having recently returned from injury, with Neil revealing he was protecting him.

“Derek, again, another one I didn’t really want to put him on,” he explained. “He was (going to be) in the squad, we’d done a bit of work with him before the game, but he’s just come back.

“So my concern and worry for him is trying to go in quick succession. We’ve got three big games coming up as well.

“I was sort of limiting people’s minutes. Zak Sturge was about to go on, and I changed my mind as soon as the goal went in, because we just can’t afford any more injuries at the moment.”

Despite their depleted squad, Neil was encouraged by Millwall’s performance against Premier League opposition and felt his side restricted Newcastle to few opportunities.

“I think everybody who’s connected with Millwall knows that we’re going through a bit of an injury scenario just now, where we’ve got a lot of players missing,” he said.

“I thought, to more than hold their own in the game against a Premier League team who’ve been very good this season, I thought we limited them to very, very little in the game in general.”