Casper De Norre’s reaction to being nicknamed the ‘Deptford De Bruyne’ by Millwall supporters

Casper De Norre is aware that he has become a firm favourite with Millwall fans even though he does not control his own social media, writes Richard Cawley.

The Belgian midfielder, signed from OH Leuven in the summer, has been dubbed the ‘Deptford De Bruyne’ by sections of the Lions support.

“I’ve heard that on my Twitter account there was a lot of interaction but I’m not doing my account – it is my agents that do that,” De Norre told the South London Press.

“Sometimes they just send me something through to show what they are saying about me. It’s nice to read good stuff about you but in the end I don’t really like to put too much time into social media and comments.

“When it is going good it is fine but when it is maybe going a little bit bad then it can be the other way around. Of course I have felt the love from the fans – it is great.

“When you are younger and initially come to the first-team then you want to know what everyone is saying about you but when you get a little more experienced then you know in careers you have good and spells that are a little less so.

“You need to focus on yourself, your team-mates and what the manager is saying – rather than the outside world – because it can change quickly. For your own mental state I think it is best to keep yourself under control, down to earth and keep working hard.

“I always give the best of myself for the team in every single game, so I think that is what the fans love about me.

“I saw the stuff (about his nickname) and it’s just the fact we are both from Belgium and our names have a bit of a comparison). But I think he is a way better player than me.”

De Norre leads the way for accurate passes and second for chances created in the Millwall squad.

“I’m a player who likes to have the ball and touch the ball a lot,” said the 26-year-old, capped at U21 level by his country.

“I like to control the pace of the game. The last month has been good for me. I’ve got a lot of game time and my team-mates know me a little better now: ‘I can give Casper the ball, even if he is a little under pressure he will do something with it’. The passing game is one of my biggest strengths.

“I’ve had a couple of good games. I’m very happy. If I put a number on my start here at Millwall I would say a seven out of 10.

“I’ve adapted well to the team and the new country – I’ve adapted well to everything.

“Obviously the results are not what we want them to be for the moment. I would like to have good performances and good results.

“Now it is a little bit a good performance and the good result is sometimes there but also sometimes now – I hope we can change that.”

De Norre is a creative outlet for the Lions but also wants that first goal – ideally at The Den.

“One of the biggest frustrations my father had during my career, even when I was younger, is that I would pass the ball instead of shooting myself. I was more likely to give the assist than score myself.

“Sometimes I should shoot more. I just hope my first goal is from outside the box – a nice goal into the top bins.

“If I could really picture the perfect goal it would be like a 90th-minute winner, at The Den, in a close game and from distance.”

De Norre picks out the away win at Plymouth as the highlight of his opening months with Millwall.

Defeating Southampton at a sold-out Den this weekend would threaten to top that.

“I’ve they have a manager who really loves his teams to keep the ball – he did it at Swansea last season,” said De Norre. “We have to prepare for that, but sometimes it is not that bad if you don’t have the ball that much.

“You can win games with 30 or 25 per cent ball possession, just by doing really good stuff with the ball when you have it.”