Millwall manager Kenny Jackett is focusing on getting midfielder Tamika Mkandawire ready for the start of next season.

The player has been out for a large chunk of this campaign and any hopes of him returning before the end of 2011-12 have now ended.

Jackett said: "It was unlikely he would come back anyway but he has had a further exploratory operation on the knee.

"It does tend to be slightly swollen and irritable. It is not a major issue, but we are looking to set his target for being fully fit for next year.

"As time has gone on this year it has got more and more doubtful he would play and even with the length of time he has been out it would be tough because he would need a few games to get back into the swing of it.

"We are not surprised he will not play again as there are 23 days left of the season and we are in a situation where it was expected."

Jackett also admitted the loss of Mkandawire has been a blow but the boss is adamant those who have come in have done a good job.

He said: "Mkandawire was last season’s player of the year so he has been a miss and Therry Racon got injured in the second game of the season down at Plymouth and hasn't appeared since "Central midfield has been a problem for us, but it has given Josh Wright an opportunity to come in there and he has done very well.

"As one door closes another one opens.

"Liam Trotter won't be fit this weekend but we are hoping he might be available next weekend against Leicester.”

Millwall have been more profitable on the road than at The Den recently, but Jackett is happy with his side's performances despite some disappointing results.

He added: "To some degree our away form has been a bit fortunate.

"Our performances of late have been pretty good at home and are certainly not ones where we deserved to get beaten.

"We have to keep that performance level high at home and trust that things will turn for us because you can’t keep having the type of run that we have been having.

"We have a difficult away game at Portsmouth on Tuesday night, which is obviously vital.

"It is a big time for us because we are in a tough relegation battle.”

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