Macaulay Langstaff: I’d love to be Millwall’s penalty-taker this season – but it’s what is best for the team

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Macaulay Langstaff has admitted he would eagerly accept the role of Millwall penalty-taker this season.

The 27-year-old striker joined the Lions for a six-figure fee from Notts County at the start of this month.

Langstaff has won successive Golden Boots, firstly with 42 goals in the National League and then 28 in League Two. He was on spot-kick duties for the Magpies.

Millwall head coach Neil Harris is happy to entrust the process of selecting a penalty-taker to his playing squad, only stepping in if an agreement cannot be reached.

“The first year at Notts County, when I scored 42 goals, I didn’t take a single penalty,” Langstaff told the South London Press.

“We had Ruben Rodrigues who took them and his record was incredible.

“I’m one of those strikers where it is about what is best for the team.

“I know strikers have got to be selfish but, at that point, Ruben was our best penalty taker. Our best chance of us scoring a penalty, which in turn improves our chances of winning a game, was him taking it.

“So I wasn’t going to say: ‘I’m taking it – because it is best for me’. The second year I took them and I scored four. That was the first season when I probably took them regularly.

“If you ask me right now do I want to take penalties then 100 per cent I would. I want to take penalties and add to my goal tally in whatever way I can.

“We’ve not had that conversation. You play a lot of games in pre-season and it is difficult because you play mixed teams at times. I’ve asked a couple of lads about who took them last season and I know Kevin Nisbet did and so did Zian Flemming.

“They are top players and ones I’d back to score a penalty because they are full of quality.

“I’m sure it will get discussed before the start of the season.”

Langstaff does not practise spot-kicks in training. He said: “I don’t think there is a right or wrong way. Sometimes you can practise too much and then you can’t score in the area you like to go to. It can get in your head and that makes you change it on the pitch.

“You can’t replicate the pressure of a game.

“Ultimately it is a gift from 12 yards and a finish for a forward. I’d rather get up there and feel confident. I’ll know where I’m going to put my next one, even now talking to you. I don’t have to change my mind when I get to the spot.

“I get why some players do practise but I also think in training that you’ll strike a penalty you wouldn’t take in a proper match – you’ll look to put one in the top corner because it looks good.”

PICTURES: BRIAN TONKS