Spackman looking for a headache

Last updated : 08 September 2006 By The Merry Lion
Darren Byfield
Byfield: Making progress
Unlike most other managers, Millwall gaffer Nigel Spackman is hoping to wake up in the morning with a headache ahead of The Lions clash with Brighton & Hove Albion, who have kindly allowed Mark McGhee to avoid a rough time from the home fans by sacking him.

Spackers welcomes back ten senior players from injury and suspension and as even added a new face in the shape of striker Chris Zebroski, allowing him the luxury of a selection headache for the first time this season.

"I am hopeful that we will be strengthened," Spackman told the club's official site, "but we'll have to wait and see.

"Mo Ross, Chris Hackett, Darren Byfield, Samy Mawene and Zoom Bakayogo have all been training at the end of the week, but we'll have to see which of them would be ready to return against Brighton.

"Darren in particular has been out for a while now, so if he's involved certainly it will only be on the bench."

If Byfield fails to make it, new signing Zebroski could make a claim for a place on the bench and the manager was quick to sing the praises of the former Plymouth Argyle striker.

"Chris is a young striker, with plenty of pace, and it was Ian Rush's agent who rung me up and said: 'You want to have a look at this kid.'

"So we had a look at him in a reserve game at Wycombe and liked what we saw. It has taken a bit of sorting out, but I think he'll be a good addition to the squad. With Darren Byfield out, we've lacked that bit of pace up front and goal threat, and I think Chris will give us that.

"Hopefully, out of adversity, something good will come, both for Chris and for Millwall. I think the crowd will take to him because he works very hard, and with his pace he should be a real asset for us."