‘He showed his desire’ – Millwall boss Harris on early assessment of Mihailo Ivanovic

Neil Harris has expressed his happiness at club record signing Mihailo Ivanovic’s eagerness to get his Millwall career off and running.

The 19-year-old Serbian striker made his debut for the Lions as a 75th-minute substitute in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at QPR.

At one stage it looked as if Ivanovic was facing a lengthy wait for match action with the South Londoners due to a foot injury which was picked up on medical tests before his transfer deadline day move to England.

But a London specialist had better news earlier this month about a timeline for the young forward, who was recently called up to the full Serbian national team – only to be sent back to Millwall due to a metatarsal issue and also a hamstring complaint.

The travelling Lions fans gave their new addition a warm welcome when he was introduced into the action at Loftus Road.

Ivanovic won a couple of early aerial duels and was involved in the lead-up to a late chance for Femi Azeez which was saved by Rangers keeper Paul Nardi.

“Everyone keeps asking me – and I understand why when he is our record signing and everyone is excited about his future – but I’m not going to say too much about his performance after one 20-minute cameo or the three training sessions I’ve seen him in now,” said Millwall head coach Neil Harris, talking to the South London Press on Tuesday.

“What I want to do is praise his desire to want to play and the fact he could’ve been ruled out for a period of time but he has a desire to train and be part of it.

“His showed his desire, when he came on the pitch, to want to be involved. His attitude to press, run and work are the basic hallmarks of a Millwall player. That is the biggest thing I want to talk about with him at the moment – everything else will come in time when I’m able to assess and work with him more.

“Hopefully I can help him develop as a man and as a footballer.

“At the moment it is about one step at a time. First impressions of his mentality are very, very good.”

George Saville made his 200th appearance for Millwall in the derby in west London.

“He’s a winner,” said Harris. “What defines winners in a Millwall shirt? Well, hatred as losing is how I defined it once to Mike Calvin in the book Family.

“Sav has that character – he wants to score at one end and doesn’t want to concede at the other.

“He has had to adapt his game because of the way the game has progressed and changed over the last seven or eight years, but also because he has aged as well.

“He is now more deep-lying. He wants to contribute at the top end of the pitch, of course he does. I’d like to see him on the scoresheet – he is due to get on the scoresheet for me – but he also has to protect his centre-halves and backline.

“I talk about glue and someone like George Honeyman glues the attack and midfield together – George Saville glues the defence and midfield together.

“They are important cogs of the wheel.

“Sav can keep going. He is not reliant on pace. He has unbelievable energy and he had a fantastic pre-season in terms of the training and distance running.

“There is longevity for George Saville in a Millwall shirt.”