ALEX Neil expanded on why Luke Cundle and Massimo Luongo were unavailable for Millwall’s EFL Cup Third Round tie against Crystal Palace on Tuesday, September 16.
Cundle and Luongo started in midfield as the Lions drew 1-1 with Charlton Athletic on Saturday, September 13, but were absent from Neil’s match-day squad at Selhurst Park.
Millwall would go on to lose 4-2 on penalties to their south London rivals after holding them to a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes.
After the game, Neil said Cundle and Luongo were unavailable due to injury. He later explained that the duo picked up slight knocks against the Addicks, and he did not want to risk them with a crucial home game against Watford looming on Monday, September 22.
Asked if anyone who was unavailable against Palace would be available against the Hornets, Neil told NewsAtDen: “I think the likes of Luke Cundle and Massimo Luongo.
“The reason I was a little bit vague about them after the game is the fact that I’m unsure where it’s going to land. We didn’t want to take any risk for them in the game against Palace, but they’re not definitely out for the Watford game.
“Mas, we’re going to have a little bit more of an investigation today. Luke has basically got a dead calf. We need the swelling to basically get out, but we’re not in control of how quickly we can get rid of that. So I’m hopeful that he’ll be ready, but I can’t say for certain.
“What I don’t want to do is say,’ yeah, he’s fine,’ we get there and he’s not playing. Then it’s all ‘what’s happening now.’
“So that was the reason for the vagueness after the game. That’s why I was saying that they were unavailable. Not unavailable in terms of we think they’re going to be longer term. But, certainly not for that match.”