MILLWALL could deploy a new attacking weapon for the Championship run-in – midfielder Ryan Leonard.
Leonard played off the front in a friendly against Colchester at The Den last Sunday, scoring twice in a 4-0 win.
Twenty-eight-year-old Leonard has featured mostly in a midfield two or as a holding player since joining from Sheffield United in the summer of 2018.
But he has experience as an advanced midfielder, notably in the famous 3-2 FA Cup fourth-round win over Everton in January 2019.
Leonard hasn’t started a game since October 2019 after picking up a knee injury against Leeds and then suffering a hamstring setback.
The former Southend man returned to full training after football was suspended in March, and is one of six central midfielders vying for a starting spot against Derby on Saturday.
Ben Thompson will also be in contention to start if he recovers from a strain to his quad.
Thompson last played in December, when he started behind striker Tom Bradshaw in Rowett’s first game in charge, scoring in the 2-0 win against Stoke.
But Leonard could be the man to give the Lions an extra attacking edge over the next five weeks.
“We played him as an attacking midfielder. He got into the box and scored two good goals,” Rowett said of Leonard.
“What the break has done is given the likes of Ryan Leonard the chance to come back and get a bit more fitness and build a better base to be part of the last nine games.
“You’re looking at different scenarios. Thommo’s had a little bit of a tight quad. He’s a natural one to put in there [behind the striker].
“We’ve got a lot of midfielders at the moment and they’re all looking fit and energetic and full of running.
“We felt we’d try Lenny [in an advanced position], he scores goals in training, he arrives in the box well. We know he’s a really versatile player and anyone who’s a versatile player will give us good options and be invaluable for these games.”
Image: Millwall FC