Danny McNamara makes return from nine-month absence

Millwall right-back Danny McNamara was again in motion for the U21s on Tuesday in his first match outing since January.

Millwall have had Danny McNamara in and round their first-team ranks for over 4 years now. He got here by way of the academy and after a string of loans in decrease divisions, the full-back turned a senior mainstay.

Sadly, the Lions haven’t been capable of name on the 26-year-old since January. McNamara suffered a critical knee harm in opposition to Cardiff Metropolis in January, requiring surgical procedure and a prolonged rehabilitation course of.

Nevertheless, McNamara has been stepping up his restoration across the coaching floor and has now accomplished his first sport since being solid to the sidelines over 9 months in the past.

Millwall began McNamara for the U21s in opposition to Charlton Athletic’s kids on Tuesday. He was withdrawn shortly into the second-half in a pre-planned substitution, getting an hour beneath his belt as he bids to return to health.

Danny McNamara returns in a powerful Millwall U21s aspect

McNamara was not the one common first-team participant concerned in Millwall’s conflict with the Charlton Athletic U21s.

Alfie Doughty – who can be stepping up his comeback – began on the left flank and got here off similtaneously the long-serving McNamara. Summer season signing Caleb Taylor was concerned too.

Zak Lovelace and Ajay Matthews began, as did the highly-rated Ra’ees Bangura-Williams.

Sadly, the first-team options weren’t sufficient to get the job carried out. Kevin Nugent’s aspect have been crushed 4-2, with the scores levelled hat 2-2 on the time of McNamara and Doughty’s substitutions.

Danny McNamara’s Millwall stats

An intriguing battle at right-back awaits for Millwall boss Alex Neil

As soon as McNamara is deemed match for first-team choice, it will likely be intriguing to see how Alex Neil chooses to arrange his Millwall defence.

Tristan Crama has been a giant hit since signing from Brentford. He has moved again right into a extra pure centre-back function this season, however he has carried out brilliantly at right-back when referred to as upon, and with Taylor an possibility at centre-back, it isn’t out of the query that Crama returns there.

Ryan Leonard stays on the books as a reliable right-back too.

It feels as if the strongest backline in the meanwhile sees Crama begin at centre-back. However, given how he impressed there, many will make a case for Taylor beginning centrally and the Frenchman working on the precise.

Regardless, McNamara’s street again to health won’t be swift. Given the character of his harm, it’s seemingly that he performs for the U21s once more and begins his first-team return with appearances off the bench earlier than being thought of for a return to a beginning berth by Neil and co.