This Millwall player beginning to show his true qualities after summer of hard graft

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Millwall winger Jiri Skalak has earned praise from Millwall manager Neil Harris – with the former Brighton man beginning to show why he was a transfer target for the Lions.

The 27-year-old winger was signed last summer from the South Coast outfit but struggled to make an impression in SE16.

But Harris had told the South London Press soon after pre-season started that Skalak had come back in vastly improved shape.

The Czech Republic international provided both assists for Millwall in Tuesday’s 2-1 League Cup win at West Bromwich Albion.

Harris said: “I’m really pleased with Jiri Skalak. It is the first pre-season I think he has done in three years and it’s vitally important to him.

“We never saw the best of Jiri. He came to us terribly unfit and we probably underestimated that. There was certainly a lack of confidence and the team we were last season, the position we were in, we were never able to build him up or give him a run of games over a period of time.

“He probably worked harder than anybody over the off season, he did a lot of work himself and came back in great shape. He has belief, confidence and a point to prove.

“His two deliveries for the goals the other night were outstanding. But it’s not just that – it was his decision-making with and without the ball.

“He has grown into the group and shown what a plus he is going to be for us.”