In-depth with Josh Coburn as he relishes chance to learn off Millwall all-time record goalscorer Neil Harris

Josh Coburn is confident that working under Millwall’s all-time record goalscorer Neil Harris is only going to benefit his all-round striking game.

The 21-year-old centre-forward netted on his Lions debut before the international break – a 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at The Den.

Millwall wanted to sign Coburn on a permanent deal this summer but had to settle instead for the Middlesbrough targetman joining on a season-long loan.

Lions head coach Harris scored 138 times in all competitions for the South London club.

Coburn has 23 goals in 97 first-team appearances and is still in the formative stage of his career.

Asked about the benefits of being bossed by a former striker, he told the South London Press: “That was a massive part in me coming here.

“He was saying how much he helps the strikers and how much he likes to do one-on-one sessions. He has already helped me in training with little movements. That is really going to benefit me this season.
“It’s a massive club. After speaking to the gaffer I knew it was a really good one to come to. It was the right move for me.

“The way they play suits me down to the ground.

“I’ve set my own little targets but it is about taking each game as it comes, trying to get as many goals as I can. I don’t like to set too many targets because if you get there then you have got to keep going.

“I prefer to try and score in the next game and help the team. It’s not all about just scoring in these kind of sides – it’s also about holding the ball up, being aggressive and winning fouls. That will help us.”

Coburn’s 58th-minute close-range finish against the Owls – a Duncan Watmore strike taking a slight deflection to deviate into his path – put Millwall on the way to their first home victory of the season.

The Lions have been excellent on their own patch since Harris replaced Joe Edwards in February.

“It was a perfect start, really,” said Coburn.

“A 3-0 win and a goal as well. It couldn’t have gone any better.

“The lads have made me feel really settled. I trained a little bit on Friday (transfer deadline) and then I had to go in and sign the paperwork, so I didn’t have much of a session. It was straight into the team on Saturday but it went really well. I really enjoyed it.

“As soon as my mum and dad knew I was starting they said they had to come down. They were buzzing.

“They loved it at The Den. They have been to Boro games and came to Bristol [Rovers] games as well [when he was on loan there]. They said it was an unbelievable atmosphere. They thought the fans were really good and they were made to feel welcome.

“I’d been on the bench before there but never actually played – I got quite a bit of stick when I went to warm up. I like that side of it. The fans really get behind you and give you that extra inch to really go and press, to get around things. They cheer for everything. It really helps.

 

“It was an important game. The lads were saying before it that they had been unlucky in matches and should have got more points than they had.

“The gaffer said: ‘Let’s put on a performance and show them what we can do’. We did that.”

Coburn had five years on the books of Sunderland before being released. He joined his boyhood club Boro at U16 level.

“I had a growth spurt but I couldn’t really control my body very well,” he said, reflecting on being let go by the Black Cats. “I was very skinny. It was just one of those times that I struggled with the technical side of the game – I was a bit all over the place.

“Physically I was alright because I was bigger than most lads, but it was my first touches that were a struggle for me in that period.

“I had a year of just playing with my mates, enjoying my football, and then I signed a scholarship at Boro just after that. The club is only 20 minutes from my house.”

Former Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock promoted him to the Teessiders bench when he was 18. He made his debut on April 21 2021 and scored four days later against Sheffield Wednesday.

“He (Warnock) wasn’t afraid to give young players a chance,” said Coburn. “I was doing well in the U18s and he brought me into training. I think he liked that I came into that training and didn’t really care – I kicked a few people.

“I saw it as a normal training session, as if I was with the U18s and U21s. Even though I’d grown up watching Boro I wanted to show what I could do. I just played my natural game.

“He told me I was going to be on the bench. I came on a few times and scored – it went from there. I loved working with him.”

Coburn thrashed home an extra-time winner to dump Tottenham out of the FA Cup in March 2022. He had his shirt from that game framed and it is still his career highlight.

His only previous loan was to Joey Barton’s Bristol Rovers. He scored 10 times in 40 appearances with the former Manchester City midfielder claiming he had the potential to win England honours.

“It was a lovely compliment from him,” said Coburn. “You have got to try and back it up – do as much as you can for him. I tried to do that.”

“I went in and scored a few at the start. The main thing I needed was to get used to men’s football and playing Saturday-Tuesday.

“Joey Barton was really, really good with me. We had a young squad, so that helped me to settle in.

“I was injured when I agreed to go to Bristol. It was a lot easier (than his move to Millwall). I made my decision, did my rehab at Boro and then went down. It was a lot less manic than it was on deadline day.”

Coburn’s idol as a youngster was Stewart Downing, another local lad who starred for Boro.

But now he namechecks Erling Haaland, who he was compared to after quickly hitting the goal trail for the Gas.

“He is unbelievable and has scored so many goals,” said Coburn.

PICTURES: BRIAN TONKS AND PA