Danny McNamara on Millwall’s play-off ambition + becoming a senior pro

Danny McNamara believes this is the best Millwall squad he has been a part of and added that the aim is to reach the Championship play-offs.

Gary Rowett’s side find themselves a point inside the Championship play-off places after recording a four-game winning run. They also remain unbeaten in their previous five outings in the second tier.

The Lions have been able to call upon the likes of summer signing George Honeyman and forward options Tyler Burey and Mason Bennett from the bench in recent weeks, giving Rowett options at his disposal to change games and claim all three points in the final stages of matches.

It was substitute Burey, 21, who scored the winner in the 90th minute last time out against West Brom at The Den.

“Definitely. We have got such a good group,” McNamara told the South London Press when asked whether this was the strongest Millwall side he had been involved with.

“We’re all competing for places, and everyone wants to play games. We’re a very hungry squad at the minute and hopefully we can take that hunger into our league games and get more points on the board.

“We have worked really hard in the last five weeks, and the results have shown that.

“We’re always thinking about the play-offs. We don’t like to get too overly excited or confident. I always say: ‘Never get too high and never get too low.’

“We take every game as it comes, but the play-offs are our aim.”

The Lions broke their transfer record over the summer, which was previously the £1.5million paid to bring in Ryan Leonard, to sign attacking midfielder Zian Flemming for £1.7m from Fortuna Sittard.

“He’s done well,” McNamara added on Dutchman Flemming.

“He’s scored five already and he’s flying. There is more to come as well, which is exciting for us as a team moving forward.”

Rowett also supplemented his squad to bring in Andreas Voglsammer, George Honeyman, Jamie Shackleton, Callum Styles and Charlie Cresswell.

“The gaffer brought in really good players over the summer,” said McNamara, who agreed the strength in depth had come from the competition that the summer signings have brought to the club.

“They’re good egos, so they don’t think that they’re better than anyone else. They all get on with the lads really well – we all do little bits outside of football, like go out for food.

“They have settled in well, and you can tell that with their performances.”

The South Londoners have only conceded three goals in their past five games since Rowett switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation in the 1-1 draw away to Rotherham. George Long in goal, McNamara at right-back and the two centre-backs of Shaun Hutchinson and Jake Cooper have all been ever-presents since the change in style.

“Having Hutchy and Coops in the backline helps out massively,” said McNamara of Millwall’s defensive solidity.

“We keep it compact, and the rest covers itself. Hutchy is always talking to you, and he will tell you when you have done wrong – I have had a couple of hidings from him as well!

“It’s good playing alongside them.”

McNamara played 37 times in the Championship last season as the Lions came agonisingly close to reaching the play-offs. A final-day defeat away to Bournemouth saw Luton Town claim the final spot in the top six.

“Last season shows how close we were and how good of a team we were,” added McNamara.

“It was a shame that we couldn’t squeeze into the top six, but it gave us the motivation to show that we are good enough and have a chance of getting in there.”

The 23-year-old has over 100 appearances in football under his belt, steadily rising from loan spells at Welling, Dover and St Johnstone, seeing McNamara become an established full-back in the Championship.

His performances last season didn’t go unnoticed either, with QPR making their interest in the Millwall academy graduate known over the summer.

“I like to class myself as more of a senior pro now in the group who can help the ones coming through,” explained McNamara.

“I don’t want to be known as a younger player anymore, I want to be seen as that senior pro who can be spoken to as an adult and leading on the pitch.

“I have the confidence to back myself against anyone in this league.”

Sidcup-born Republic of Ireland U21 international McNamara is 12 league games into a long-term contract he signed with the Lions over the summer.

“I just want to kick on again and do better than I did last season. It meant everything to me,” said McNamara of his new deal.

“It’s given me that extra bit of confidence. Knowing that the club and management staff are behind me is also a boost.

“It’s a club that I love and have supported all my life, so to get it signed and done was a dream come true.

“I want to try and play as many games as I can and contribute to the team and get us three points week in, week out. I just want us to try and get in those play-off positions, then we can maybe have the chance of competing and going up.

“It would mean the world to take Millwall to the play-offs – it would mean everything. It’s something that I want to strive for, and there is no reason why we can’t do it with the group we have.”