Millwall: Raiding rivals Charlton Athletic can give Neil Harris a solution - View | OneFootball

Millwall may want to look to Charlton Athletic hotshot Thierry Small this summer as Neil Harris tries to bolster his defensive options ahead of next season.

With Danny McNamara out of contract in the summer, and Brooke Norton-Cuffy's loan spell set to end, Murray Wallace and Joe Bryan are Harris' current full-back options for next season.

Wallace is believed to have another year on his contract but is 31 now and could explore other options for more game-time ahead of next season, according to the South London Press Pod.

That may leave 30-year-old Bryan as the only left-back but he has had his injury woes since joining from Fulham last summer and only started 15 league games this season.

Harris should be chasing a left-back, and local rivals Charlton may provide the answer to Millwall's problems in Small.

Small has impressed since joining the Addicks in January and has been offered a new long-term deal at The Valley, but could be tempted by the prospect of Championship football at Millwall.

Thierry Small has a big future

The 19-year-old was once a highly-rated youth prospect in Everton's ranks and became the club's youngest-ever player at 16 years and 176 days when he came on as a late substitute in the FA Cup against Sheffield Wednesday in January 2021.

Despite reportedly being the subject of a bid from Real Madrid, he moved to Southampton that August but made just one appearance for the club in three seasons, among unsuccessful loan moves to Port Vale and St Mirren.

After being recalled by Southampton earlier this year and then seeing his contract mutually terminated following 21 appearances in 12 months at St Mirren, he joined Charlton on a contract until the end of the season with the hope of revitalising his fleeting career under new boss Nathan Jones.

He has done a stellar job so far at both left wing-back and left-back, starting 14 consecutive games as Charlton came one game away from equalling the club record for the number of league matches unbeaten, before losing 1-0 to Wycombe Wanderers on the final day of the League One season.

He has also contributed in the attacking department by scoring on his debut in a 3-3 away draw at Bolton Wanderers and assisting Alfie May in a 3-1 away win at Cheltenham Town.

His strong form has pushed the Charlton board to offer him extended terms, despite having the option to trigger an automatic extension for an extra year on his contract after this season.

If Millwall and Harris could persuade Small to make the short move to The Den, it would be a statement signing and a chance to get one over on their South London rivals.

Lions' left-back woes

Neither Wallace nor Bryan have been completely convincing in a Millwall shirt this season, with both falling out of favour and missing periods of time through injury.

Wallace had started just two of the previous 14 games before he was ruled out for the rest of the season after he picked up a back injury against Rotherham at the start of April.

Former Fulham man Bryan has started just 15 games all campaign amid persistent groin issues and a suspension for violent conduct - not the ideal debut season he would have wanted at The Den.

McNamara has done a fine job as a makeshift left-back this season but is nearing the end of his contract with the Lions, so his immediate future is uncertain as it stands while Harris has admitted he wants a left-footed option at left-back.

This highlights a real need for a new man on the left of defence for next season and a bright prospect like Small could be a fantastic addition.