NEIL Harris’ options will be increased for the Championship clash against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday – if he decides to involve the loan returnees at The Den.
Fred Onyedinma and Ben Thompson are the two most likely to feature in Harris’ match-day squad, with the Lions boss describing the former as “unplayable” in training since his return from Wycombe.
Thompson was one of the top-performing midfielders in League One this season as he helped Portsmouth to the top of the table where they have been since September.
With Lee Gregory an injury doubt, Onyedinma could be another attacking option on the bench. Harris also said Millwall missed Thompson this season.
Millwall are aiming for a fifth successive win this weekend.
“It’s a lovely position to be in,” Harris said. “We’ve got players in form, players who have come into the team and played well, players that have come back from loans and regular football and are going to want to play.
“So I’ve got some very tough decisions moving forward. It’s a position that the majority of Championship managers have, we’ve not always had that luxury.
“It’s a position I want to be in the second half of the season. We had it last year in the second half of the season. When people are playing well then decisions can be easy. If they’re achieving what their goals are, set by me, then they should continue playing.”
Blackburn were eighth in the table in November, and were 2-1 up at Leeds on Boxing Day before they conceded two injury-time goals.
Tony Mowbray’s side defeated West Brom 2-1 on New Year’s Day. Jordan Archer made two crucial saves when the Lions took a point from Ewood Park after a 0-0 draw in August.
“I really like Blackburn, I think they’re a really good side,” Harris said. “They were far too good for League One last season and fully deserved to get up.
“They were excellent against us earlier this season, it was a difficult fixture for us at their place.
“They’ve got some very good footballers but don’t half work hard as well. It’s a really tough fixture, it’ll be a competitive game and I don’t think there will be a lot in it at all.
“All we have to do is take our fine form and good individual performances into the game. It might be moments of quality we need like Fergie [Shane Ferguson] produced last weekend, that Jed [Wallace] and Tunni [Ryan Tunnicliffe] produced to win games.
“That’s the difference at these levels, having match-winners.”
Image: Millwall FC