Gary Rowett provides Millwall team news update

Mason Bennett and Shaun Hutchinson were forced off in Millwall’s impressive 1-0 win over Sheffield United at the weekend.

The duo were swiftly sent for scans to determine the extent of the injuries that they suffered.

The Lions have won four on the trot in the Championship and will enjoy flying under the radar, not yet officially part of the play-off chasing pack with 39 points still up for grabs.

Gary Rowett offered an update on the injuries to Hutchinson and Bennett but also on the fitness situations regarding Benik Afobe and Nana Boateng when he spoke to NewsAtDen.

He said: “Hutchy (Hutchinson) and Mason’s don’t look quite so bad.

“But we need to get the results back to be definitive, so not quite sure yet.

“It depends on how (Afobe) trains (whether he could start against the Reading).

“If he has a full week’s training then that’s an option.

“But just having him available and being fit certainly helps us, having him available is a bonus.

“We don’t expect Nana (Boateng) back for the foreseeable future.

“It’s frustrating for him because he would undoubtedly have played some part in some of the games.

“It’s been a frustrating period all round.”

Boateng is not as much of a loss for the first team, although as Rowett alluded towards, it was likely that he would be involved towards the back end of the season if the Lions face a handful of dead rubbers to finish off the campaign.

The Verdict

Afobe has scored seven goals in all competitions this season and has made gradual progress in his return to English football.

The 29-year-old’s contract at Stoke City expires in the summer and the Lions may well be firm favourites to take him on a permanent basis, if he can prove his worth to Rowett in the final stretch of the season.

Th