Millwall loanee Alex Mitchell fully focused on season with St Johnstone

Alex Mitchell is fully focused on spending the season with St Johnstone amid calls from his Saints team-mates that the club need to make it a priority to keep hold of the Millwall loanee beyond the January window.

The 21-year-old centre-back has seamlessly adapted to life in the Scottish Premiership under the guidance of ex-Millwall assistant manager Callum Davidson, starting every game since signing his season-long loan at McDiarmid Park in the summer.

Fellow loanee Remi Matthews, who joined St Johnstone from Crystal Palace, recently told the local Scottish media that it would be “massive” for the club if Mitchell is still a Saints player beyond the January transfer window.

“I’m a St Johnstone player and I love playing for the club,” Mitchell explained to the South London Press when asked whether there had been any indication from Millwall about their plans for him when the winter window opened.

“I’m really grateful for everyone at the club and I’m going to give everything to it. I’m contracted until the end of the season.

“Things can change but, in my head right now, I’m concentrating on the whole season and getting St Johnstone as high up the table as I can to help this club get to where it should be.”

Mitchell came agonisingly close to helping his new side earn a point against table-toppers Celtic when he collected Ali Crawford’s free-kick inside the area in the 93rd minute and bundled a late equaliser past Joe Hart.

However, a winner two minutes later from Georgios Giakoumakis handed Celtic a 2-1 win and cruelly denied Mitchell and St Johnstone a point.

Despite the last-minute heartbreak, Mitchell added: “The fact of wanting to be a professional footballer when you’re younger and wanting to play against the best means it was a career-high.

“At the start of my career now, I’m playing against some top opposition. To work your whole life to get to scenarios such as the goal against Celtic, it’s what dreams are made of.

“It’s what I aspired to do when I was younger – I wanted to play and score against the best. When I scored against the best team in Scotland, it was the best moment of my career.

“Although it was only for a short few minutes, it’s a moment that I’m hungry to do again, and it’s given me a real motivation to kick on.”

Mitchell excelled last season on loan at League Two side Leyton Orient, featuring 26 times during his time at Brisbane Road.

He had options to return to the fourth tier but chose to leave London and further develop his craft by joining St Johnstone, having the chance to play against Champions League sides Rangers and Celtic.

“The reason why I didn’t go back to League Two, although I had a great offer and the people involved there know how grateful I was for that offer, was because I did it last year,” said Mitchell.

“Even though the move in League Two would have been to an equally as good team, I felt it was a sideways move.

“When the gaffer here at St Johnstone called me, I was excited to come because to play in this league, which has huge exposure and playing at Celtic Park or Ibrox, you’ll get a lot of promising scenarios which could work in your favour.

“I wanted to challenge myself in a different way and ask questions of myself. I think I’m getting the right answers to those questions, so at the moment, it looks like a brilliant decision from all parties.

“Also the gaffer [Callum Davidson] has been great for me. He’s a really good manager who has a certain way of playing and really helps improve your individual game.

“He has been giving me a lot of little pointers and showing me ways to improve. I believe I have improved with the more games I have played, so the gaffer and other coaches have been massive for me.”

Mitchell confirms that it was a mutual decision over the summer from both club and player for him to head out on loan.

But he also understands what it takes to break into Gary Rowett’s side as a centre-back, with the experienced trio of Jake Cooper, Murray Wallace and Shaun Hutchinson all routinely used by the Millwall boss.

Mitchell, who made his one senior appearance in a Lions shirt in the second-round EFL Cup 3-1 win over Cambridge United last season, added: “Millwall’s defenders are unbelievable.

“I know for a fact if I needed to call one of them up for advice, they would happily take that call.

“Even with the loan decisions, I spoke with them about it as they were young centre-halves at one point. As good as they are, you do want to get to that level, and this is what you have to do to get there.

“They’re at such a top quality, so it was always going to be hard to break into that. The fact that I’m getting more games under my belt was a huge factor in heading out on loan, and both parties understood that.”

Mitchell has had a steady string of loans at Millwall, starting off by helping Andy Woodman’s Bromley into the National League play-offs before heading out to Leyton Orient and establishing himself comfortably at League Two level.

Now, earning praise just a few months into his loan spell with St Johnstone, what’s next for Alex Mitchell after this spell away from The Den?

“That’s the question,” he replied.

“I don’t think it has been two years yet, but I have played in three different leagues and various cup competitions.

“Hopefully it shows and speaks for itself that I can adapt to different leagues.

“Hopefully I get an opportunity in Millwall’s first team, but if that’s not the case and the time is not right, hopefully, I can get an opportunity at a club which suits me at that time.”

MAIN PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD