Millwall boss Neil Harris on transfer links to Tom Bradshaw – and “massive part” he wants striker to play

Millwall head coach Neil Harris says that Tom Bradshaw is a “massive part” of his plans – with the Wales international striker recently linked with a move away from The Den.

Football Insider website ran a story at the weekend saying the forward had a number of clubs interested in acquiring his services.

Bradshaw has 12 months remaining on his Millwall contract. Our paper recently published an interview conducted with the 31-year-old at the end of last season in which he stated his dream would be to finish his career with the South Londoners.

Asked about his future, Harris told the South London Press: “You articulated a really good piece last week on Tom – how much he loves the club and how much he’d like to extend his stay here with his family settled in the area. Then, 48 hours later, someone puts it out that Tom Bradshaw has been linked with various clubs. I did read that and have a little chuckle to myself.

“I’ve been on record about how delighted I was with the group of players that finished last season and that I want to build around that group of players as well as bringing in quality additions. We are working hard behind the scenes on those quality additions.

“Tom is a massive part of that. He is an infectious character. He gives a real energy and buzz around the place. I’ve really enjoyed coming back and working with Tom because he has developed so much as a character and a player since I signed him seven years ago.

“His game has slightly changed now. I look forward to continue working with him.

“Tom is with us and a massive part of the plans moving forward.

“Supporters and everyone inside the football club know my personality – family comes first. If there is an absolute need for a change then I understand that.

“But, at the moment, we’re really happy with what we’ve got in the building – we just need to add to it.

“I’ve talked honestly on the club website about being patient at the moment but also we need to add quality personnel.

“Ideally the next transfer activity at Millwall Football Club will be incomings, unless it is an absolute necessity for personal reasons for an individual to leave the football club.

The South London Press asked Bradshaw in that same interview about players tending to only command one-year deals as they get into their 30s.

He said: “It’s the way football has always been – but it’s quite an old-fashioned thing. You lose some aspect of resaleability – that’s probably the main point. But the facilities and equipment people have nowadays to look after their bodies – the knowledge they have to eat better and maintain their physical outputs – is tenfold over even 10 years ago, when I started playing professional football.

“I don’t feel physically any different to when I was 24 or 25. I’ve had a few niggling injuries (last season) but I put that down to playing almost every game last year and then, for the first time in five or six year, I was playing over the summer with Wales. Then a short break before doing pre-season again. It’s probably something my body wasn’t used to.

“It’s something that takes time to adapt to. I feel stronger for it now and physically great.”

“I probably take recovery more seriously. I’ve got recovery boots at home and a Theragun – after games I will jump on them. I’d like to think I’ve always been quite professional in the way I conduct myself.

“One thing that has definitely stepped up is the recovery aspect after games – what you eat and drink after games.”

Harris has spoken before about Kevin Nisbet, signed from Hibernian last summer, learning how to play the number nine role at Millwall off the likes of Bradshaw.

“I was very lucky I did my ACL when I did it because I had only been at the club five or six weeks,” said Bradshaw. “I probably didn’t know how to be a Millwall number nine at that stage.

“At the time it was the most devastating news, but it gave me nine or 10 months to study and watch Gregs (Lee Gregory) and Moro (Steve Morison), who had been at the club five or six years and been super successful.

“It was a really good way for me to learn how to be successful here. By doing that and my rehab, when I came back I felt I understood what was required of me as a player and as a person to be a striker for Millwall.

“It’s not complicated. Fans want you to run your nuts off, put everything into the game and try and score as many goals as you can. We’re not a massively scoring team or club – so you have got to be ruthless when you get those chances. First and foremost it is about being part of a team – if you have got to defend then you have got to defend.”

Bradshaw has enjoyed being reunited with Harris.

Millwall’s fortunes were hauled impressively around in the closing months of the campaign as they powered clear of relegation danger.

“From a personal perspective, I don’t think the gaffer has changed,” said Bradshaw, who was signed when Harris was last in charge. “He is very straight to the point and a very caring man, in the sense he’ll always ask about your family and things in your personal life. That’s lovely, because straight off the bat it builds that rapport and connection.

“He has got that very rare balance of having the complete respect of the club and players – that authority – that you have to command. He’s certainly got that because when the gaffer decides to give a rollicking then you take it seriously!

“The flipside is that when he came back in, the first question was how are you children? How is your missus? How is life?

“It’s that personal connection that pretty much everyone has got with him and that shows on the pitch.”