Millwall boss Gary Rowett expects Cardiff City chief Neil Harris to put sentiment to one side as he prepares for Den return

Neil Harris heads into the Lions’ Den on Saturday – with Millwall manager Gary Rowett expecting his Cardiff City counterpart to put any sentiment to one side.

Chopper won promotion from League One as a player and a manager – also consolidating the club’s place in the Championship before stepping down in October 2019.

Rowett succeeded Millwall’s all-time record goalscorer in the hotseat.

It will be Harris’ first time back in the Den dugout since he left – but on this occasion it will be the away technical area he occupies.

Millwall fans will not be in attendance as the domestic football season continues to be played behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rowett said: “I’m going to be a little bit selfish now and say it’s probably more of a shame that we haven’t got our fans there full stop – rather than just to give Neil a nice reception!

“But absolutely when you go back to a team where I’m pretty sure the fans hold you in high regard, it is nice to go back there. But also sometimes when you leave, you leave – you have to move on mentally and not get dragged into ‘oh he’s coming back, it’s lovely…it’s nice’.

“Chopper will be coming back to win the game. He’ll be coming back to show how much it means to him to get results for Cardiff.

“It would have been an interesting one with the fans there because I’m sure it would’ve been a great atmosphere.”