‘He’s a Premier League player’ – Millwall boss make centre-back admission after Leeds United win

Neil Harris admitted that centre-back Japhet Tanganga is a Premier League player after he scored the only goal of the game in Millwall’s 1-0 win over Leeds on Wednesday evening.

The 25-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell with the Lions in the second half of last season and re-joined midway through the summer as a free agent.

Tanganga netted in the 40th minute when he met Jake Cooper’s header back across goal from a free-kick.

The three points moved the Lions up to fifth in the Championship table.  

“That’s why I rung him every day in the summer,” said Harris of the wait to get Tanganga’s permanent signature over the line.

“I get on brilliantly with Japh. I just promised him rhythm, games, doing the best we can to keep him fit and a platform to enjoy his football.

“Really, [we wanted to] kickstart and re-start his career again. 

“He’s a Premier League player, we all know that.

“He’s had a really tough four years with injuries and disappointing loans, where it hasn’t quite worked for him and he’s not been looked after in the right manner to keep him fit after a couple of long-term injuries.

“We want him on the pitch every week and he knows his place in the team. I know what he’s excellent at, which is pretty much everything.”

PICTURE: BRIAN TONKS