Millwall boss Harris ‘ideally’ wants ‘player or two’ signed before Championship opener against Watford

Millwall head coach Neil Harris is still waiting for more transfer window activity and he is hoping that a breakthrough happens before their Championship opener against Watford next weekend.

Steve Gallen (pictured above right), appointed as the Lions’ director of football in the summer, was at The Den today to watch the 1-0 friendly loss to Southampton.

So far the South Londoners have brought in two goalkeepers in Lukas Jensen and Liam Roberts, Notts County striker Macaulay Langstaff and centre-back Japhet Tanganga, who spent the second half of last season on loan from Tottenham.

Asked by the South London Press after the Saints runout if Millwall were close to any more incomings, Harris said: “I don’t know. I’ll be speaking to Steve Gallen in a minute.

“I’m sure he will give me an update to where we are at over the last 24 hours.

“I’ve been really honest, and I was really honest at the fans’ forum last night, we know where we need to recruit – we have talked about it all summer, so we know.

“But we also have to be respectful to the level we’re at and it has always been the hardest position to recruit, in a top line, because that is where the demand is and the finances are. I know the recruitment guys are working extremely hard and they want to deliver the players to me that we feel we need.

“We have got four weeks of the window left. Ideally I’d have a player or two in before Saturday but ultimately I also have to be patient as well and work with what we’ve got in the building.

“A lot of the players did exceptionally well for me last season, so I’m extremely happy with the group we have got. My thought process is we just need something slightly different in the topline – different options. It’s a long season so we need to make sure we have players coming off the bench and can rotate as well.

“I’m not comparing our bench to Southampton’s – because they are at a different level. But we named seven subs today because we only had seven subs. There are U21s – Kyle Smith, Chin Okoli, Ra’ess Williams and Tom Leahy have been with us but they need to play at that level to get their fitness and match practise for loan moves or stepping up into our group when required for training etc.

“Alfie (Massey) stayed with us today because he has affected the group exceptionally well and trains brilliantly – he has a brilliant personality. I thought it was just nice that he had his debut, albeit not a league debut, in front of fans at The Den. It was a proud moment for him. But ultimately we can’t rely on 18-year-old Alfie Massey.

“What I will say is I’m really pleased with him and I’m really pleased with Romain and Aidomo – how they have impacted pre-season. They will have a part to play.”

MAIN PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD