NEIL Harris accepts Connor Mahoney’s form will “fluctuate” and urged people to be “patient” with the winger.
Mahoney, 22, joined Millwall from Bournemouth in July and he scored in the last pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad before assists for winners in his first two league games at The Den.
Former Blackburn and Birmingham player Mahoney started the first six league games of the season but was left out against QPR last Saturday.
“Connor started off like a house on fire. He scored a fantastic goal against Sociedad and has a couple of very good assists in the league,” Harris said.
“I think realistically I always knew there would be a buzz and then at some stage a little dip. Connor came in late [in pre-season] so we always knew he was going to have a quieter game at some stage because of the amount of football he’s played.
“We changed the system at the weekend and I felt there wasn’t a starting position for him. Connor’s a very young attack-minded player. His form’s going to fluctuate, a bit like Jed [Wallace’s], but what’s important is that everyone’s patient with these sorts of players.
“Everybody craves creativity, flair and excitement but when a player has up-and-down form people have to be patient.
“That’s what I don’t understand with English football, the international team but also club football, is that there isn’t patience.
“Connor has settled really well, he’s a great lad and great on the training pitch. This season, next season, 10 years’ time, he’ll be a player whose form fluctuates in his performances. I can live with that.”
Image: Millwall FC