Millwall loanee Alex Mitchell: ‘Danny McNamara played a massive role in my St Johnstone signing’

Alex Mitchell has explained that Millwall team-mate Danny McNamara played a significant role in his decision to sign for St Johnstone for the season.

Mitchell, 21, has excelled since signing on loan with St Johnstone in the summer, playing every game in the Scottish Premier League under former Lions assistant boss Callum Davidson.

The former Bromley and Leyton Orient loanee had options to return to League Two but chose to move up to Scotland to play against the likes of Celtic and Rangers.

McNamara was recalled halfway through his season-long loan with St Johnstone in the 2020-21 season. He returned and came straight into Gary Rowett’s side.

“Danny was massive for me coming up here – he spoke with me a lot,” Mitchell told the South London Press of the role McNamara played bringing him up to Perth.

“I went up to him and said: ‘What’s the craic with the club?.’

“He just explained and said that it would be brilliant for me. It worked so well for him, so it was a huge motivation to come to St Johnstone because Danny McNamara did it two years ago, and now he’s flying in Millwall’s first team.

“A lot of boys have different ways of getting into that first team. Billy Mitchell has done so well and grafted with the games at Millwall, whereas Danny has gone out on loan and proved himself, and now he’s smashing it. 

“There are a lot of ways that the gaffer and the coaching staff at Millwall give opportunities to young lads. 

“It’s just up to us to take it.”

See Friday’s South London Press for an exclusive interview with Mitchell about his start to life at St Johnstone.

MITCHELL PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD
McNAMARA PICTURE: BRIAN TONKS