Millwall target loan striker signing as Tom Elliott ruled out for six weeks
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk
Millwall are looking to sign a striker on loan – with Tom Elliott facing up to six weeks out following his shoulder dislocation.
Frontman Elliott suffered the injury in last weekend’s 2-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers. Summer signing Tom Bradshaw (knee) is out until next season.
Lions boss Neil Harris – nicknamed Chopper – said: “With no Tom Elliott and no Tom Bradshaw, we’re still looking at centre-forwards – but that is the hardest position to recruit.
“We have got Lee Gregory fit and Steve Morison. Although Stevie is playing his best football as an impact sub he can get through the 90 minutes, if required. Aiden [O’Brien] has done well in spells playing up top. Fred [Onyedinma] is with us at the moment – you can say we’ve got options.
“Tom is probably out for six weeks and there are no guarantees that’s going to be enough firepower to keep fit until the end of the season, let alone perform. We need to make sure we don’t leave ourselves short.
“It will be a loan. Trying to do a permanent in this window when talking to clubs is not easy – you are talking about a huge rise in transfer fees because there is a shortage of players and lack of options.
“We would buy if the deal was right but in this window it is very difficult when you see so few transactions take place. A loan is more realistic.”
There is also a risk that Elliott could suffer a fresh setback with his left shoulder.
“They can be very volatile in the short-term healing process,” said Harris. “It comes down to the individual, if he comes back in four weeks or eight.
“He has to regain strength but then there is the danger of a dislocation again – the risk is very high. Then you are looking at an operation.
“The shorter route is to try without the operation and then you are probably 50-50 whether it happens again.
“If you get through to the summer that is the ideal time to have the operation.
“There are no guarantees – we have to hope he will be okay. We’ll have to work with him through the close season to strengthen that area.”
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