‘I’ve played my best football at Millwall’ – George Saville on heading back to The Den + going so close to play-offs in 2018

George Saville always believed there could be another chapter of his career at Millwall. And signing up for a fourth spell is proof, if any is required, of the affinity he has to the South London club.

The maurauding midfielder made his senior debut while on loan from Chelsea in 2013. And he scored five goals in 21 appearances after another temporary spell, this time while on Wolves’ books, a couple of years later.

Saville was a stellar performer in Neil Harris’ side which narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs in 2018.

His form earned international recognition with Northern Ireland and a £7.5million transfer to Middlesbrough the following August.

Not only did Saville net 10 times in his last full campaign, but his energy and drive was key in Millwall employing a highly effective pressing game.

“That’s probably been my best season, on a personal level,” Saville told the South London Press. “It was a big factor in coming back. I’ve always played my best football at Millwall.

“I’ve had a promotion with Brentford in League One, which is a great achievement as a collective.

“It’s commonly known how fond I am of this football club, so there was always a possibility [he would come back]. It was just when and if there was that opportunity. You know what football is like – there are a lot of different things that come with it.”

Millwall’s hopes of reaching the Premier League in 2018 were ended by a 3-0 defeat at home to Fulham.

The Lions went into that match on a 17-match unbeaten streak. The atmosphere at The Den was electric. But their opponents survived some rocky moments in a goalless first period before Ryan Sessegnon, Kevin McDonald and Aleksandar Mitrovic struck to kill off the hosts’ play-off prospects.

“Surprisingly we didn’t win an away game until January, when we beat Leeds 4-3,” said Saville. “At the start of that season it was all about staying in that league. Then we went on that run. We had such a good group and morale, we were kind of just rolling into games – we just felt confident.

“The closer it got to the end of the season we all looked at each other and went: ‘Jesus, we could have a chance here’. We never openly spoke about it because at the start, or midway through, we never looked that far ahead.

“Towards the end we thought ‘we might as well have a go, now that we’re here’.

“I scored a disallowed goal against Fulham. I think there was a foul in there, but it could have gone our way and been a different story. But Fulham were an unbelievable side and turned it on in the second half to beat us 3-0 – that was that, really.

“Neil Harris was brilliant with me – his man-management. He gave me confidence. I scored in my third game [that season] against Bolton, which kickstarted it quite quickly.

“A big factor was Shaun Williams, as well. He played as a holding midfielder – it gave me the licence to step in and make the box.

“A lot of things fell in my direction and I made the most of it.

“Coming back [to Millwall] I’ve got the opportunity to improve and get as close to those numbers as best as I can.”

Millwall don’t seem to have pressed with the same intensity since Saville’s departure.

“We always worked hard for each other,” he said. “We played good teams that year and quite often came into the games as underdogs.

“There were a lot of possession-based sides who tried to play out from the back and we liked that. We could step on to them. Our work ethic was second to none that season.

“We got in peoples’ faces and that’s what I’m about – I like getting in peoples’ faces, pressuring them and winning the ball back.”

Saville made 118 appearances for Boro. He was played out of position by Tony Pulis – the manager who signed him – before enjoying life under Neil Warnock last season, netting six times in 42 matches.

“That first year there was a real incentive to get promoted,” said Saville. “I think we were sitting fourth pretty much all season, then we lost five on the bounce in March and that kind of ended our season.

“I played left-mid, left wing-back, left-back and holding midfield – it was hard to get any of the consistency that I’d had the season before under Neil Harris.

“That takes away from your game a little bit.

“After that it was a a transitional period. We went with a younger manager in [Jonathan] Woodgate – different players coming in and out – for the last couple of years it has been difficult.

“I’ve played a lot of games and got a lot of experience. My numbers were a lot better under Warnock. Hopefully I bring last season into this season and kick on.”

Saville has downplayed Warnock’s claims that personal reasons quickened his departure from Teesside.

“Being from down this way, it makes sense – I’ve got a young family,” said the Camberley-born player.

“But I didn’t move just for family reasons. It’s about the football club and the opportunity Millwall are giving me. There was just a lot of boxes that were ticked.

“I was going into my final year at Middlesbrough. I was keen to come back to Millwall and they were keen to have me. It was a case of making it work for all parties.”

The Den is set to be back at capacity after the government gave the green light for full stadiums next season.

“The players are just as excited as the fans, in terms of that we’ve missed having them there and the atmosphere,” said Saville. “A packed out Den is unbelievable.

“There are probably between 12 and 16 clubs who can make the play-offs, with how open the Championship is. It’s important for us to get a good start, then try and build on that.”