Daniel Ballard’s season could be over through injury, unless Millwall can make it to the Championship playoffs without him.

After a strong season with Millwall, playing 33 games and helping them to within three points of the playoff places with two games remaining, Daniel Ballard’s campaign may have been brought to an early end through injury.

Gary Rowett confirmed that Ballard felt his quad after their most recent match against Birmingham City, and a scan revealed some damage.

At this stage, Millwall don’t know exactly how much damage, but Rowett says it “puts him pretty much as a doubt for Saturday and the Saturday after”.

If Ballard wants to play for Millwall again this season, it would likely need to be in the playoffs.

As it stands, Rowett’s side are ninth, three places away, but they’re not far behind.

The Lions are level on points with Blackburn Rovers in eighth, one point behind Middlesbrough in seventh, and three behind Sheffield United in sixth. With two games remaining, you never know.

Millwall face relegated Peterborough in their next game, but after that, they’ll take on automatic-promotion hopefuls Bournemouth on the final day. Ballard and co. will hope Bournemouth already have second place secured by then.

Whether he plays for them this season or not, Ballard may not have featured for Millwall for the last time. Rowett previously confirmed they’d like to bring the Arsenal defender back.