adminMillwall ‘fantastic’ talisman can win Swansea City redemption with rare start – opinion
Alex Neil has hinted that Macaulay Langstaff could be handed a Millwall start in Wales this weekend as the Lions take on Swansea City.
Millwall striker Macaulay Langstaff should target a redemption this weekend against Swansea City as Lions head coach Alex Neil hints that the 28-year-old could be handed a rare start.
The London outfit have struggled with injuries so far this term and have had to grind out results without a full strength XI. Three points against Norwich City last time out came thanks to an early Camiel Neghli strike at Vicarage Road.
After that win, Neil praised his side’s efforts but admitted that Millwall were ‘hanging on’ as the match went on with players on ‘last legs’. The Scotsman now takes his team to Swansea City with some good news on the injury front.
Millwall injury boost ahead of Swansea City
Will Smallbone now has some minutes under his belt, so the Southampton loan man could be in for a start with midfielder Billy Mitchell also in with the chance of a return. It remains to be seen who leads the line up front.
Josh Coburn has started every Championship fixture this season but has come under criticism from some fans as he lacks the potency to hit the back of the net, still waiting for his first goal of the campaign. Mihailo Ivanovic could return to the matchday squad having missed out against Watford when nursing a shoulder injury from the Crystal Palace cup game.
That could lead to Langstaff being named in the starting XI for the first time in the league this season. Neil said: “We’ve got Macca back as well, who’s certainly ready and potentially could start.”
Should Langstaff be handed a start, he must take the chance to impress. The striker joined Millwall from Notts County in the summer of 2024 having plundered 28 goals in League Two the season prior.
Macaulay Langstaff could be handed rare Lions start
However, the forward struggled with the step up to the Championship and found the net just once in the 2024/25 campaign. It took Langstaff just three minutes to hit that tally this season when he scored off the bench on the opening weekend against Norwich City, winning the match for Millwall.
Commenting on that goal, former QPR and Cardiff City star Richard Langley said on commentary: “It’s top attacking play. Macaulay Langstaff comes short, springs the offside trap, and he slots it in.
“A lovely finish. Fantastic composure to slip it between the keeper’s legs. It’s such an important goal for him. You can see with his movement, he’s causing problems for this Norwich team. This could be the perfect away performance from Alex Neil and his men.”
There’s no doubt that Langstaff has goals in him, he’s just struggled to prove that at Millwall. With Coburn misfiring and Ivanovic nursing an injury, the chance for Langstaff to show that he can be relied on has opened up.
After that crucial early goal this season, Langstaff missed five fixtures due to injury but returned from the bench against Watford last time out. He’s not started a Championship match for Millwall since January and if Neil gives him the nod from the off, it’s a significant moment – and an invitation for goalscoring redemption.
In other news, Swansea v Millwall team news with 6 doubts and 4 outs as Lions midfielder hopes for return.
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