Millwall boss on settled nature of his team line-ups – admits ‘limited options’ have been partly a factor

Millwall boss Neil Harris has talked about the reasons behind his settled team selections ahead of Saturday’s match at West Bromwich Albion.

The Lions head into an international break after the trip to The Hawthorns.

Lukas Jensen, Jake Cooper, Joe Bryan, George Honeyman, George Saville, Ryan Leonard, Casper De Norre, Romain Esse and Duncan Watmore have all started every Championship match for Millwall.

The question is whether top-scorer Watmore can go again off the back of a hectic schedule although Harris was able to take the former Boro and Sunderland attacker off early in Saturday’s comfortable 3-1 victory over Preston.

Millwall have a host of players out injured including frontmen Tom Bradshaw and Josh Coburn, as well as midfielder Billy Mitchell and club captain Shaun Hutchinson.

“There aren’t many viable options in certain areas of the pitch and going to West Brom you have to make sure you have leadership and experience within the group as well, and know-how, because it can be an intimidating venue,” the Millwall head coach told the South London Press. “It is a good football theatre, The Hawthorns, and I have to make sure we have the right balance between experience and energy in the team.

“I have picked pretty much an experienced team over the first eight games of the seasons. Two reasons. One, the players have played extremely well individually and collectively and, secondly, limited options in changes we feel can affect the game from the start.

“Yes, of course, I have to look at a three-game week off the back of an initial nine-game period from the start of the season – think about fresh leg, fresh energy, impetus and desire to want to perform. But then also keeping the core group that has played so well in the first seven-and-a-half games certainly.”

PICTURE: BRIAN TONKS