Ryan Leonard wants to be Millwall’s throw-in taker – and leave Zian Flemming attacking them in the box

Ryan Leonard wants to be taking Millwall’s throw-ins if he is on the pitch, because it allows Zian Flemming to attack them.

Leonard returned to the first-team fold at the end of January after five months out with a hamstring injury.

And the former Southend United and Sheffield United midfielder, who can also play in defence, can really launch the ball in from the sidelines.

Asked by the South London Press who can throw the ball further out of him and club record signing Flemming, Leonard told the South London Press: “I reckon me. I’d rather have Zian in the box. I came on for the Burnley game, I had the throw and he had a shot blocked on the edge of the box. I ran over and said: ‘I’d rather have you in the box and me taking the throw in’.

“He’s had a brilliant season. He’s a great player.”

Flemming and Tom Bradshaw both have 13 goals each this season.

Bradshaw won the Championship Player of the Month for February.

Leonard said: “They’ve both done really well for us and are both so important. They seem to be linking up quite well, like for Bradders goal on Saturday. Zian headed it through to him. If they keep doing that it’s only going to help us.

“It’s nice they’ve got a little competition going, who can get the most goals? They are both so nice I don’t think they’d ever have a rivalry. To have them both in the top five is a brilliant achievement and shows how we’ve adapted as a team.

“We seem to be scoring more goals, it’s only going to help us in the long run.”

Millwall face Reading today followed by home games against Swansea and Huddersfield Town. All three are in the bottom 10 in the table.

But Leonard responded: “I don’t think it means anything in this league. This league is crazy – everyone beats everyone. You play so many games in this league, Saturday-Tuesday or Saturday-Wednesday, you just need to try and put a run of form together. Sometimes you’re playing teams down the bottom of the table and they are fighting for their lives. It isn’t easy, no matter who we play against.

“All we need to do is go on another good run now and we can go where we want to go.

“Last season we were relying on other results (on the final day). It was definitely a longer shot. And we had to beat Bournemouth away, who had just been promoted. It was a tough ask.

“We seem to be in a better position this year but we’re not going to get carried away.

“For Millwall to have done what they have done so far is a brilliant achievement. If we can ride the wave and keep pushing on, then who knows?”