‘He’s desperate’ – Millwall boss Neil Harris urges Macaulay Langstaff to be patient in hunt for first goal

Neil Harris believes Macaulay Langstaff’s natural goalscoring instinct will see him open his Millwall account – but has reminded the summer signing to be patient as he adapts to the jump from League Two to the Championship.

The 27-year-old forward joined the Lions in the recent transfer window from fourth-division side Notts County but has yet to start a game in the Championship for the South Londoners, with Middlesbrough loanee Josh Coburn, 21, starting the last two outings.

Harris revealed this week that Coburn could be out for up to two months after he was forced off after 34 minutes in last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Luton with a calf injury.

Record signing Mihailo Ivanovic, 19, only has an outside chance of making tomorrow’s London derby at QPR. Tom Bradshaw is also out for six weeks as he nurses a hamstring injury, with Langstaff looking set for his first league start tomorrow.

Harris told the South London Press: “I have spoken with him a couple over the last couple of months about where we see him and where he should see himself at.

“Macaulay has a history of scoring goals – a lot of them – he’s desperate to score goals.

“I said to him: ‘You’ve scored goals at National League North, the National League and you’ve scored goals in League Two now, but the jump from League Two to the Championship is huge.’

“We’re massively respectful of that. We’re being a lot more patient with Macca than he is with himself. 

“He wants to prove to people that he deserves to be on the football pitch with Millwall.

“I’m desperate for him to do well. I want to work with him and help him. I have said to him on more than one occasion: ‘Just be calm and patient with yourself.’

Langstaff came close to getting his first Millwall goal after being played through late on against the Hatters last weekend, but keeper Thomas Kaminski made a fine stop to deny the striker.

Harris added: “Macca was really good for 55 minutes [against Luton] on the weekend – he deserved a goal. It would have been fitting if he got on the scoresheet.

“It didn’t happen. What I know about Macaulay Langstaff is that he has scored goals at all levels from a very young age in his life.

“It’s natural – he will score goals. You don’t need to teach it. Sometimes you just need to be patient and allow people to adapt to levels.

“He’s playing against a lot of international footballers every week. People can’t imagine how different the levels of football are between League Two and the Championship.

“I’m so pleased with him. He just needs to keep his focus and belief. The ball has always found him in the penalty area, and he’s always found the ball.

“It will happen, it’s just about how long it takes.”