Millwall ‘light’ on playing options as they head into Championship opener against Watford at The Den

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Millwall kick of their 2024-25 Championship campaign tomorrow at home to Watford with head coach Neil Harris describing his selection options as “light”.

The Lions have signed two outfield players in the summer transfer window with Japhet Tanganga a permanent addition after his Tottenham contract expired with Notts County’s prolific forward Macaulay Langstaff also added.

But Tanganga is suspended for the opening three matches after his dismissal in the Lions’ win at Swansea on the final day of last season.

Harris is without injured trio Zian Flemming, Billy Mitchell and Murray Wallace. Youngsters Niino Adom-Malaki and Adam Mayor are also sidelined.

Harris is an admirer of West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jayson Molumby, who is in the final year of his contract.

But when our paper went to press the Republic of Ireland international was awaiting his punishment after the FA charged him with violent conduct for his dismissal in a pre-season friendly.

Millwall appointed Steve Gallen as director of football in May, with a key task to oversee their transfer business.

“We’re light at the moment – not just starting 11 but also options on the bench,” Harris told the South London Press. “I’m very pleased with the core group of the squad. I’m very pleased with the group of players we’ve retained from last year.

“There is a possibility that a player or two might leave the building for pastures new, that’s what happens in the windows, and then we need to add even more players to the group.

“Japhet is training and looks fine. Zian, Billy and Murray are the main ones missing. With Zian and Murray we are only talking about a few weeks. Billy is a longer-term one, the middle of September.

“We are stretched, even at the moment, and we have the normal pre-season scenario of having two or three injuries, like every club.

“In some ways we are in better shape than a lot of clubs when it comes to the injury situation. Adam Mayor and Niino, two very young lads, being out longer terms affects the look and size of the squad.

“We’re going to face some good teams, good players and good squads this season.

“The work that has been done at this football club over the last eight or nine years has been miraculous, in many ways, to the success we’ve had.

“We delivered that miracle in the last 13 games of last season. That is the job again – to keep outperforming the budget in the league and keep pushing forward, one day, to making that top six.”

Millwall will remember their goalkeeper Matija Sarkic, who passed away on June 15, before the match against the Hornets.
The 26-year-old’s family will be at The Den.

Supporters are being advised to take their seats at midday – the match kicks off at 12.30pm – to make sure they do not miss any of the tributes planned.

“It will be emotional and it will be a privilege to be there,” said Harris. “I’m really looking forward now to the first game of the season and the tributes to Matija.

“It will be a really pivotal moment for the football club, the players and certainly for Matija’s family that will be present.

“It’s two-fold for us. It’s the first day in the football calendar but also we get to remember Matija properly. It will be really nice for us.”

So what is the target for Millwall this season?

Harris said: “If we look at the league table after the Swansea game and we’re 13th in the league – a few points off 10th – that has to be the starting point. We need to try and better where we were last year.

“The club is trying to transition and rebuild into a squad that can compete for that top-six opportunity again.

“An opportunity to get promoted is the bottom line but we also understand that is maybe not going to be a thought process immediately. You have to build over a period of time and that’s what the club is starting to do this window.

“We do want success as well, the two things have to go hand in hand.

“Being a top-half side is a starting point but I’m always going to crave trying to get this football club to the top six because that has not been achieved since 2002 when we got beaten by Birmingham.

“That’s a personal target for myself. But first we have to build a squad that is capable of having that thought process and an ability to deliver that thought.”