Hull City loanee Ryan Longman delighted at how Millwall loan is panning out

Ryan Longman is happy with the game time he has racked up since joining Millwall at the start of September.

The 23-year-old arrived on a season-long loan from Hull City and has made 20 Championship appearances, starting half of that total.

Asked if the move has delivered what he wanted, Longman told the South London Press: “Oh yeah – 100 per cent. I can’t be happier, getting the amount of opportunity I’ve had on the pitch at Millwall so far.

“I want to keep my head down, working hard and produce for the club. Hopefully a few of the type of crosses I put in recently against Middlesbrough can turn into goals in the near future. I want more assists and goals on my record as well.

“I’m a versatile player and with all the injuries we’ve had, it is good to have ones like myself who give you that diversity in different positions.

“When I’m playing wing-back I am more attacking minded, although I can do a job going backwards as well.”

Longman needs to play another eight matches in the Championship to make it a century.

He has scored seven goals in 73 games for Hull.

“I had a rough idea that I must be close (to a milestone),” said Longman. “I didn’t realise I was that close – it’s incredible. If you had told me four years ago, when I was in a boot and injured at Brighton, that I would play 100 games in the Champ then I’d have been buzzing about it.

“I want to keep going and make it 200 and 300.

“At Brighton I had done the ligaments in my ankle, just when I was close to going on loan to Wimbledon, so it couldn’t go through at that time.

“It was a hard point in my career but we all go through them – ups and downs.”

Longman was signed by Brighton around the age of 11, taking his focus off being an athlete.

“My best was long jump – I had a good leap on me,” he said. “I competed in a few competitions.

“I was probably at Brighton at the perfect time. The new stadium was just built when I joined and then a year or so down the line the new training pitches were built as well – their facilities are excellent.

“With those facilities and coaches it is perfect for young players to make a career for themselves.”

PICTURE: BRIAN TONKS