Millwall defender Tristan Crama has promised to return’stronger’ after sustaining his second ankle injury in a couple of months.

The 24-year-old was superb for the Lions last season, helping them finish third in the Championship, and his performances made him probably one of the finest in the league at his position.

Crama was forced off late in the play-off semi-final loss to Hull, so he missed the start of pre-season.

Millwall’s Tristan Crama reacts to the latest injury blow.

Crama’s first pre-season debut came as a substitute against Bromley in late July, and he was subsequently named to the starting lineup against Antwerp on Saturday.

However, the defender was changed at halftime, and Alex Neil confirmed after the game that the injury situation was worse than they had anticipated.

And, while the exact nature of the damage has yet to be revealed, it appears like Crama will be out for some time, since he posted a picture on Instagram after ankle surgery.

“79 days between two procedures. It’s difficult to accept given everything it took to get back, but I’ve done it before and will do it again. Thank you for all of your messages and support; I will come back stronger.”

Tristan Crama will be sadly missed by Millwall
To begin, you have a lot of sympathy for Crama because he played in every game last season, so he’ll be upset to miss the start of pre-season, but he’ll be looking forward to the first game of the season.

That is not going to happen, which is a mental setback for Crama, but his message indicates that he is already totally committed to his recovery.

There’s no disputing that this is a huge blow for Millwall, since Crama was one of the best players in the Championship last season, earning a spot on the Team of the Year.

Tristan Crama’s 2025/26 Millwall Statistics (Source: Sofascore)

Appearances

48

Goals

3

Assists: 6

Distance Covered per 90

10.2km

Clean sheets.

19

Clearances (per 90).

5.9

Interceptions (per 90).

1.4

Balls Recovered (Per 90)

3.9

So it’s a concern, and while it’s not the same ankle he injured against Hull, the fact that he’s had two difficulties in such a short period of time is concerning.

It remains to be seen whether this has an impact on Millwall’s transfer plans, and it presents a dilemma for the Lions since if they do bring in a replacement for Crama, they will most likely be out of the team when he returns.

Equally important, they must ensure they have adequate quality backup, as depth was a concern for Millwall in the run-up to last season’s promotion, so it’s all about striking the proper balance, especially since Crama can play both centre-back and right-back.

Finally, it is up to the recruitment team to make that decision, and their track record in previous windows suggests that fans will have faith in whatever direction the club takes.

It’s unfortunate for Crama to be in this situation, but these things happen in football, and he will be rooting for his colleagues to get off to a good start, with Millwall meeting QPR in the League Cup on Saturday before travelling to Bristol City on the first day of the Championship on August 15.