Millwall, Wolves deal was short and sweet but reunion didn't strike same tone | OneFootball

Ben Marshall enjoyed a successful loan spell at Millwall in 2018 but didn't hit the same heights after joining on a permanent basis the following year

While Ben Marshall may have dropped off the EFL radar in recent times, now plying his trade in the North West Counties League for Darwen FC, he was a familiar name in years gone by thanks to various spells with clubs in the Championship.

Two of those spells came with Millwall, and Marshall experienced two very different campaigns at The Den, either side of an unsuccessful time with Norwich City.

The forward first joined the Lions on loan from fellow Championship side Wolves in January 2018, performing well as his side recorded an eighth place finish in their first season after promotion from League One, but things didn't quite go to plan when he re-joined on loan 12 months later.

Ben Marshall impressed after joining Millwall on loan from Wolves

Marshall had struggled for minutes during the first half of the 2017/18 campaign at Wolves, playing just six Championship games for Nuno Espírito Santo's high-flying side who'd eventually lift the Championship title, and he was allowed to leave for Millwall on loan.

It proved an inspired move, and Marshall became one of the first names on the teamsheet for Neil Harris' side, scoring three goals and registering five goals in 16 Championship appearances, with all of those goal involvements coming in a nine-game spell where he was unplayable at times.

Goals against Burton, Barnsley and Bolton Wanderers between the end of February and beginning of April were sandwiched between five assists, helping Millwall to a very respectable eighth-place finish in the Championship.

This was made even more impressive as it was the Lions' first season in the second tier after winning promotion the previous season, and Marshall's performances helped him to gain the respect of The Den faithful, no mean feat.

However, it wasn't just supporters that were impressed, and Millwall boss Harris was keen to bring him to the club on a permanent basis, but Daniel Farke and Norwich City were able to offer a more attractive financial package, and he departed Wolves for East Anglia in the summer of 2018.

While Millwall supporters might have thought that was the end of Marshall's career in South London, he'd soon return, but was unable to replicate the form he'd shown during his 2018 loan spell.

Ben Marshall struggled during his second loan spell at Millwall

Marshall desperately struggled for game time at Norwich during the first half of the 2018/19 campaign, being a victim of the team's success as the Canaries would go on and win the league, just like Wolves had the previous year.

After just six appearances for Norwich in all competitions, Marshall returned to Millwall on loan in January 2019, but couldn't quite replicate his exploits from the previous season.

In total, he made 16 appearances for Harris' side, scoring just once, failing to register an assist, and when he returned to Norwich in the summer of 2019, his deal was terminated, just one year into a four-year contract.

12 months prior, you'd have expected a Championship club to snap him up on a free transfer, but that was to be the end of Marshall's professional career, joining 12th tier side Stoneclough just a couple of months later.

Marshall was impressive during his first spell on loan at Millwall, but it was a completely different story 12 months later, and the reunion didn't quite strike the same tone.