Daniel Ballard is set for a relatively long-term injury layoff with Millwall, after suffering a knee injury requiring surgery in his loan spell from Arsenal.

Millwall confirmed on Friday that Daniel Ballard has had to undergo surgery on his knee, and he now faces a period of rehabilitation.

The club have ruled the defender out until March, which is certainly a setback for one of the Gunners’ top-performing loan players.

Ballard had played more minutes than any other Arsenal player (loan or otherwise) before the injury, making 21 appearances for Millwall in all competitions.

He’d also made four appearances for Northern Ireland on international duty over the same period.

The news is particularly disappointing given that it’s so out of the blue. Ballard completed the full 90 against Hull City last Saturday, but now faces at least three months out of action.

The other key concern is that Ballard has a history with knee injury problems.

The only other serious injury of the centre-back’s career was another knee issue with Swindon Town that required surgery and an absence of over six months.

This time around, the problem doesn’t sound quite as serious, but it’s a shame after Ballard spent much of the last year-and-a-half fit and playing regularly.