Millwall FC: Dan Ballard and Jed Wallace named in Lions return debate | OneFootball

The Lions have not had the greatest starts to the season, and could do with some more quality in their ranks.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Millwall have struggled to make a proper impact in the Championship so far this season, and won just one league game before the international break.

Despite signing Femi Azzez, Macaulay Langstaff and Mihailo Ivanovic among others, Neil Harris has struggled to get his team kicking on at the start of the new campaign, and will be hoping for better performances in the coming weeks.

The arrival of Josh Coburn from Middlesbrough on loan should ease any goal worries that supporters may have going forward, but more strength out wide and defence has possibly been a desire of many in South London.

In recent times, Millwall have played host to several towering centre-backs, with Daniel Ballard leaving an ever-lasting hole in the heart of the club when his loan concluded in 2022. They are also lacking a player that can inspire the team when times are tough, like Jed Wallace did during his five seasons at The Den.

Millwall need to find players similar to Ballard and Wallace

The 2023/24 campaign was a difficult one for Millwall for the most part, with a fantastic run of form at the end keeping them out of any relegation battle.

Nevertheless, at times they looked like they lacked leaders, and that was something that Wallace was for the club. However, it has now been two years since he left, and they are yet to properly replace him.

Football League World asked Millwall fan pundit Chris Chapman from the YouTube channel Chat with Chap, who from past Millwall teams would fit into this current side, with Chris unable to choose between Ballard and Wallace.

He started: "We had Ballard on loan from Arsenal, he obviously then went on to sign for Sunderland and has been absolutely fantastic for them ever since.

"We really lack depth in the centre-back department beyond Jake Cooper and Japhet Tanganga, who are fantastic at this level, but there isn't much beyond that.

"Sean Hutchinson is there more for his off the pitch duties and responsibilities as club captain, and then we have Wes Harding, who's clearly not in favour and is not necessarily a proven championship centre-back. We're light at the back and I think someone like Ballard would be absolutely phenomenal," Chris said.

"The second player I’d bring back would be Wallace. He is without a doubt one of the most exciting players I've ever seen down at The Den. He just got it, and he provided the quality off the ball work that it takes to be a successful Millwall player.

"I think we could do with a bit more squad depth in the forward areas, and it's very rare to have a player that gets what it's like to be a Millwall player who puts in that off the ball work, but also has a lot of quality while on it.

"Given that Zian Fleming has just gone out the door, I think he would be very welcome if he came back, but that's never going to happen."

Ballard and Wallace have become regulars at their current clubs

Since leaving The Den, both Ballard and Wallace have gone on to become staples of their current sides, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion.

The move to the Baggies has allowed Millwall's former right-winger to challenge at the top of the Championship for the first time in his career, while Ballard is currently one of the best young defenders in the division.

The 24-year-old has excelled in the north-east since making the permanent switch after his loan with the Lions concluded. He signed a contract extension in July, taking his deal with the club to 2028.

Many Millwall supporters will wonder what if both of them stayed for the 2022/23 campaign, in which they narrowly missed out on the play-offs on the final day of the season, and have not come close to the top six ever since.