Claim made on Danny McNamara's Millwall future - 'I don't see him getting a renewal' | OneFootball

FLW's Millwall fan pundit has advised the club against offering fresh terms for full-back Danny McNamara

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 looked an assured outfit in the early stages of this season, as they look to build upon the momentum of last campaign, where they finished just outside the play-off positions.

After a strong end to last season, where the Lions looked like they would go all the way and launch themselves into that final play-off place, having won six out of their last nine matches, the South East London club fell just short in the end.

Manager Alex Neil took charge of the side in late December 2024, after former boss Neil Harris oversaw the club go through a difficult spell of form, and since then, the Scotsman has made himself a home in the English capital, with his position at the club not yet coming under any sort of scrutiny.

Millwall's January arrival of French defender Tristan Crama on January 17th could almost not have come at a more convenient time for Neil, with Irish full-back Danny McNamara picking up a bad knee injury against Cardiff just a week later, which has seen him sidelined ever since.

Both Crama and Ryan Leonard have filled in at right-back in McNamara's absence, and with the 26-year-old's contract due to expire at the end of the season, FLW's Millwall fan pundit, Lucas, has had his say on whether the Irishman should be offered a new deal at The Den or not.

Milwall have been advised against offering a fresh deal for Danny McNamara - "I don't see him getting a renewal"

McNamara has spent his entire professional career contracted with Millwall, and has only spent time away from the club on a series of loan deals to the likes of Welling United, Dover Athletic, Havant and Waterlooville, Newport County and St Johnstone.

Since his loan spell over four-and-a-half years ago, the 26-year-old has established himself as a consistent member of the Lions squad, having made just shy of 150 appearances for the club.

Now, having not played a match in eight months after undergoing knee surgery, Lucas doubts he will handed a new deal unless something miraculous was to happen.

When asked whether he could se this being McNamara's last year with Millwall, he said, "Yeah, I do to be honest. Obviously we will continue to pay him as he rehabs from injury, but there wouldn't have been a formal extension in my books anyway.

"He's done well at times over the years, [he] broke in as a young player after a really good loan spell in Scotland. [He] really impressed in his first few months as a Championship player, but since then hasn't really kicked on.

"[He] certainly doesn't offer enough different abilities and attributes as to what our other right-back options do.

"We certainly need to add someone more attacking with attacking impetus there as a different option to the likes of Ryan Leonard and Tristan Crama when he plays at right-back, though I suspect he'll spend more time at centre-back moving forward.

"I don't see him getting a renewal, barring a storming second half to the season once he returns from injury. Then with Ryan Leonard probably coming to the end of his Millwall career as well, potentially right-back will be a big area where we need to recruit next summer.

"So whether McNamara does have a decent couple of months, if can get himself in the team and get himself back fit and firing, maybe there is a contract there to be won."

Millwall will need to freshen up the right-back position before too long

With first-choice right-back option Leonard now 33, Crama seemingly preferred at centre-back and Japhet Tanganga having been sold to Sheffield United this summer, this leaves Millwall's right-back options bare with McNamara also out.

Next summer could be a big one for the Lions as they look to reshape their squad, and if they are able to have another positive season, then their options as to who they can attract to the club will only widen.

Manager Neil will almost certainly have a big say on McNamara's future with the club, but it seems as though the Irishman is not out of his plans just yet, having signed a new deal with the club in June of this year until the end of this season.

If McNamara can get himself back in the side and prove his worth after a lengthy injury, you wouldn't back against him remaining a Millwall player for the foreseeable.