Millwall defender McNamara on loving left-back role and ‘no egos’ squad discussion at key stage of last season

Danny McNamara has loved his time at left-back so much in the 2023-24 campaign that he is perfectly happy to be playing in that role again next season.

When it comes to the Millwall players that performed impressively after Neil Harris returned to SE16 as head coach in February, the homegrown defender can be as satisfied as most.

With Ryan Leonard locked in the right-back spot in the final months – his performances landing him the Player of the Season award – McNamara switched on to the other side of the backline.

McNamara started 10 of the 13 matches after Harris was brought back to save the South Londoner from relegation – playing the full 90 minutes in the final six.

“I’m absolutely buzzing to be on the pitch – whether that be right-back, centre-mid, left-back or winger,” McNamara told the South London Press. “As long as you are out there, it is all that matters.

“You also want to do a job. Me going left-back, I feel I have used my experience very well from playing right-back defensively.

“I’ve enjoyed playing left-back. I love defending – that is my game. I feel like I can come inside on the left and it opens up the whole game a little bit more.

“I definitely need to work on my left foot, to be more confident and use it a bit more – to back myself a bit more. That is something I can work on.

“Next season, who knows? I’ll play wherever he (Harris) wants me to play. I feel like I can do more than just a job there.

“The challenge is more positioning. Your body position is all different. Your one-v-one defending is in different positions – it does feel a bit alien. The more games you play there, the more it becomes real. In training I’m playing left-back. I’m getting used to that every single day.

“You receive the ball with your left foot. It’s about working on those different steps in a game.”

McNamara has played 134 matches for Millwall, the vast majority of those on his favoured side.

He said: “We had a conversation about a week before Neil came in, we had a group meeting, and said: ‘Put your egos all to one side – we’re in it together. We’re in a scrap – whoever is in your position or starting, get behind them no matter what’.

“That’s the way I’ve been. Len’s been at right-back and playing really well. I don’t care, if we get results. It’s our livelihoods.

“To get on the pitch the other side, I can’t complain. I’m out there playing football and doing more than a job at left-back. I back myself at left-back.

“My season has been a bit up and down. The first two or three months were a bit tough, being in and out of the squad. I’m not really used to that. I’d been used to playing consecutive games.

“I’ve used that experience. I’ve learned a lot from that and I feel, from December onwards, I’ve had a strong back end to the season.”

PICTURES: BRIAN TONKS