Millwall captain Steve Morison backed to hit 40-game mark again next season
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
Neil Harris reckons there is no reason why Steve Morison cannot play 40-plus matches again for Millwall next season.
The striker, who turns 35 at the end of August, has been a crucial part of the Lions’ success over the past three years.
Morison extended his Den stay until next summer after triggering an appearance clause in his contract. The club captain played 48 matches in total – 39 of those starts.
The experienced frontman is just eight games shy of 300 games for the Lions, who he initially joined from Stevenage in 2009.
Harris said: “This season he has made over 40 appearances – at this level, for a 34-year-old, that is really impressive.
“But if you look then there are players at 34, 35 and 36 that do that regularly, either because they have come into the game late or they just can – they are robotic in what they do.
“Steve ticks both those boxes. Yes, there are going to be knocks and niggles in that position but he is capable of churning out 40 appearances again – either starts or off the bench.
“In the last couple of years, probably even longer than that, Steve has been a top substitute. I chose to start him in the majority of games last season and he played a lot of football. But sometimes you need that impact off the bench and Tom [Elliott] has certainly played that role well.
“Moro is one who is very good when he comes on to see a match out, because of his game knowledge.
“Steve is a fit lad who is driven to want to play. He gets the buzz from scoring goals but he gets more of a buzz from three points on a Saturday, that’s why he’s so good at doing the ugly stuff without the ball and is so unselfish.
“I want him to keep doing that. Tom will have been watching him closely this season and seeing what he does – that it is not about Steve Morison being the best centre-forward in the division or the best player on the pitch, especially at The Den.
“It’s about him making the right decisions, with the ball and without the ball – that can be dictating situations at set-plays. When there are stoppages in play and restarts, it’s about him dictating them in front of our fans.
“It’s little things that go unnoticed by so many, but if you add them together they are so vital at Millwall.”
Southend United have offered a new deal to goalkeeper Mark Oxley, who has been linked with a summer switch to the Lions.
The South Londoners already have three contracted shotstoppers on their books – Jordan Archer, David Martin and Tom King – but could be in the market for the Shrimpers number one, who is a free agent at the end of this month.
Southend chairman Ron Martin said: “We’ve made Mark an offer which I think is the best a goalkeeper will get in League One.”