Millwall boss explains more on call to start Murray Wallace at left-back – and bench James Meredith

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Millwall manager Neil Harris has spoken more about the decision to start Murray Wallace at left-back on Saturday – and drop James Meredith to the bench.

Meredith was a virtual ever present last season for the Lions and his form led to a call up to the Australia squad, cutting short his summer break as he made the cut for their World Cup travelling party.

But Wallace, snapped up from Scunthorpe in the summer, was picked in his berth for Saturday’s 3-0 win over Ipswich Town.

Shaun Hutchinson came back into the starting line-up to partner Jake Cooper in central defence.

“We know Murray is a versatile player but he is naturally left-footed,” said Harris. “He is good with his right foot as well, but it’s not always easy to start your first real run of games playing in a slightly different position.

“He is still at centre-half but on the right side.

“Murray has had to be patient and learn what we expect from him. His form has got better and better. I just felt at the weekend it was important to get Hutch back in the team – he was our Player of the Year last season and is hugely influential in our dressing room. It was just a decision who needed to come out.

“I took James out because even though he has been Mr Consistent over 15 months he has not had a break with reaching a League One semi-final, then a final and going to the World Cup this summer. I’ve seen signs his form is not at its utmost consistency.

“Sometimes you have to let someone take a step back to go forward again. I felt it was important to give James a breather.”

IMAGE BY KEITH GILLARD