Millwall midfielder comments on striker’s transfer window switch

George Saville has sent a good luck message to Benik Afobe as the now former Millwall striker gets start to start a new life in Dubai.

The Lions agreed to cancel the frontman’s contract last week and he has since signed for Hatta Club.

Millwall are in the market to add to their attacking options.

“Benik had a little bit of a slow start last season and then once he started finding the back of the net it got his confidence up,” Saville told the South London Press. “He had a great season, scoring 13 goals and did really well for us.

“This season he struggled with injury. He struggled to find his fitness and that affected his form.

“Benik is a great kid. That’s the choice he made [to leave] and I wish him all the best.”

Millwall are sixth in the Championship table and will look to strengthen their grip on a play-off spot at Middlesbrough this weekend.

“We’re in a good place,” said Saville. “We have carried on from last season. We always seem to do well the back end of each season, but I feel we’ve carried that on a bit from last season.

“Probably the big difference this season is probably the away form. We’ve managed to pick up a couple of wins away from home which has really helped us in the table.

“It’s another year of the lads being together, it’s another year of the manager and staff being together – the instructions are clear. Everyone knows what we’re doing here. We’ve brought good players to the squad. We’ve got a few good players in who can play a few positions – we are covered in most departments.

“Looking to strengthen, where obvious. That talk is not for me. But from the start of the season the club made good recruitment, bringing in players who have really helped the squad.”

Asked if the club have their strongest options in midfield since Saville has plied his trade for them, he replied: “I would probably say yeah, in terms of the number who can play in there. Two or three came through the door [in the summer].

“It is competitive.”

Saturday’s match in Teesside will also see two of the top attackers in the division on show.

Millwall’s club record signing Zian Flemming is on 10 goals, putting his joint fourth in the scoring charts. Boro’s Chuba Akpom leads the way with 13 in 19 league fixtures.

Saville said: “Zi’s been brilliant. Ten goals before Christmas. He’s added something we’ve maybe lacked over the last couple of years.

“We’ve relied on the likes of Jed [Wallace] for goal inputs and assists. Zi’s stepped up, when the game’s are tight he can go and win you the game. He might be quiet for 20 minutes here or there but you know when he is on the pitch there is an opportunity for him to go and grab a goal for us.”

See tomorrow’s South London Press for a longer interview with Saville.