Millwall goalkeeper had loan talk conversations before landing first-team run

BY EDMUND BRACK

George Long has revealed that conversations took place at the start of the season about him heading out of SE16 to play first-team football before he broke into the Millwall starting line-up.

Long dislodged Bartosz Bialkowski from Gary Rowett’s side in September and has been an ever-present since.

The 29-year-old former AFC Wimbledon and Sheffield United stopper joined the Lions after he left Hull City at the end of the 2020-21 season.

Long sat on the bench for the entirety of last season in the Championship but was rewarded with a starting spot in the 2-1 win over Blackpool.

“I had conversations throughout last season and at the start of this season with the manager,” Long told the South London Press about whether he had thought about leaving The Den on loan to secure regular first-team football.

“I have always reiterated to him that I wasn’t happy to sit on the bench and just stay there. But the gaffer knew that and always said that I would get an opportunity at some point – he just couldn’t say when.

“Fortunately, that wasn’t a conversation which needed to be pursued. I always believed I would get into the team here. Thankfully, that opportunity came.

The Lions have won six of the 13 games that Long has started and he has kept four clean sheets as they find themselves just two points off the play-off spots heading into their Boxing Day fixture at Watford.

“The lads in front are fantastic,” said Long of Millwall’s defensive unit.

“Millwall’s track record of being hard to beat and keeping clean sheets is great, but it reflects well on the whole team as well.

“It’s great to have those lads in front of me who are hard to beat and hard to break down, so when people do get past them, it’s nice to chip in with a few saves. I’m never really overly worked, which is a credit to those in front of me.

“It has been great to come into the team and we have picked up some great results and climbed towards the top end of the table, which has been a real positive.

“Our aim, as a team, is to stay up in and around the mix for as long as we can and see where it takes us towards the end of the season.

“I feel as though I have been playing well. It’s been nice to take training performances into games.

Millwall have two home games over the festive period, taking on Bristol City on December 29 and Rotherham on January 1.

Rowett’s side are six unbeaten at home and have only lost twice at The Den this season.

Only Burnley (28) and Blackburn Rovers (24) have taken more points at home than Millwall (23) – and the Clarets have played one more fixture.

The Lions had the third best home record in the previous campaign, only bettered by Fulham and Bournemouth, who took the two automatic promotion spots.

“Our home form has been fantastic,” explained Long.

“We always relish playing at The Den because we know the performances have been excellent and the results have been brilliant.

“The crowd as well is a massive advantage for us. I know, from being part of an away team coming to The Den, a lot of teams are happy to take a draw.

“It feeds into our hands. In those two upcoming fixtures, we will be looking to capitalise on that and get maximum points.”