JAKE Cooper’s red card against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night is set to open the door for Tony Craig to start his first league game of the season.
Cooper is banned for the visit of Burton Albion to The Den on Saturday after picking up two yellow cards in the 2-1 defeat to the Owls at Hillsborough.
Lions boss Neil Harris made three changes on Tuesday night, resting first-choice front pair Steve Morison and Lee Gregory as well as Aiden O’Brien.
Harris is down to just two fit centre-backs this weekend, but has more options up front after being pleased with the performances of Fred Onyedinma and Tom Elliott, who scored his fourth goal of the campaign this week.
“They were excellent, both of them, they looked hungry to show what they can do,” Harris said. “I was delighted for Tom that he got a goal.
“I made a decision to take players out of the team who had done well on Saturday, Steve, Lee, Aiden, just for fresh legs. It was no slight on their performance at the weekend or this season, because they have been excellent.
“Tony certainly comes into the reckoning. I’ve got a few players that can play there. I can’t protect the decision with Jake, that’s something he’s got to learn from.”
Millwall will be expected to beat second-last Burton this weekend and go into the third international break of the season in high spirits.
Harris said: “It’s a game that I expect a response from my players in, and I will get a response, no shadow of a doubt about that. We need the fans to come and be up for it as well.
“It’s a huge game for us.
“I think throughout the season more composure would have given us more points, we’ve not been ruthless enough or clinical enough. That separates players at the top of this level and where we are at the moment, players aspiring to get there.”
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