Millwall boss Neil Harris not overthinking loan transfer window scenarios

Neil Harris says that he is not “overthinking” whether any of Millwall’s three loan players will be recalled in January.

Lions director of football Steve Gallen recently revealed that all of their temporary deals – Josh Coburn, Ryan Wintle and Calum Scanlon – could head back to their parent clubs early in 2024.

Middlesbrough frontman Coburn, who scored on his debut in a Den win over Sheffield Wednesday, has been out since coming off against Luton in September with a calf injury.

It throws up the question whether the centre-forward’s lack of game time since arriving in SE16 may lessen the risk of the Teessiders wanting him back in the next transfer window.

Harris told the South London Press: “Recalls are pretty standard in loans and it works three ways. It works for the parent club, loan club and the player.

“It’s just different forms of agreement and some are verbally or contractually different.

“I certainly don’t overthink it now, in October or the start of November. It doesn’t really come into effect until the middle of December to be honest. You could have a loan goalkeeper and a team has eight goalkeepers available – then they all get injured on the same day! Then they are going to recall him.

“Yes, recruitment have to think about plan B if we lose somebody in all aspects, including loans. For Josh it could work both ways.

“As far as we’re concerned all the players on loan will stay with us unless told otherwise.”

PICTURE: PA