Millwall manager Ian Holloway believes Nicky Bailey will be an important component in the Lions’ survival bid once the midfielder is fit.

Bailey has been out for seven weeks with a back injury although Ollie feels he is nearing inclusion back into the squad.

The former Charlton midfielder played in a 2-1 win for Millwall’s development side against Cardiff on Tuesday and Holloway said: “He got through about 70 minutes.

“I don’t know about this weekend. He’s been out nearly six/seven weeks with a pretty bad back but hopefully he’ll come through tomorrow unscathed and I’ll have to view it.

“He is and he would have been an important player because he organises people very well.”

Ollie added: “He talks well.

“He’s a very experienced player and I played him in the first two games I had and we won one of them against Ipswich.

“It’s all about results but you’ve got to be really careful you don’t risk anyone or ruin anyone for months to come.

“It was quite a nasty injury, a slipped disc almost and it was pretty unusual.

“But he is over it and hopefully he’ll be fine and we’ll see how we go.”

The Lions have had crippling injuries this season but the manager is slowly starting to get some players back who could feature in what looks to be a season-defining week with games against Forest, Wigan and Watford coming up.

“Lee Martin trained this week and so did Jermaine Easter,” said the boss.

But one player definitely out of the weekend’s trip to Nottingham is Richard Chaplow.

“He’s still in the treatment room,” confirmed Holloway.

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