MILLWALL have ticked off a major priority area early in the summer with the signing of a centre-forward – though the club are left to “wonder” what might have been had they been able to bolster that position in January.
The Lions confirmed the signing of Scotland international striker Kevin Nisbet from Hibernian last weekend. Nisbet, 26, joined for an undisclosed seven-figure fee. Nisbet has signed a long-term deal, with the Lions having the policy of not disclosing the number of years on a contract.
Millwall wanted to sign a forward in January, and Nisbet was their number one target. The deal had been agreed between the clubs and Nisbet travelled down to SE16.
But there was an issue with the medical and the move was called off late in the month. Nisbet had only returned from a long-term knee injury the previous month.
Former Dunfermline striker Nisbet then proved his fitness and quality as he scored 12 goals in 20 games as Lee Johnson’s Hibs finished fifth in the Scottish Premiership to secure a place in the qualifying rounds of the Europa Conference League.
The collapsed move at the start of the year meant Millwall were left with just one natural centre-forward in Tom Bradshaw after Benik Afobe left for United Arab Emirates.
Although Bradshaw performed brilliantly and ended the campaign on 17 goals, the Lions couldn’t do enough to finish in the top six, missing out by just a point.
Manager Gary Rowett was asked by NewsAtDen if there was a sense of what might have been after being unable to secure a striker for the second half of the season.
“We spoke about it in January,” Rowett said. “We knew we only had Tom with Benik leaving. We only had Tom as our only real out-and-out number nine.
“It was an area that we wanted to strengthen. January was January and it’s obviously very difficult to do. But of course you always wonder whether those extra goals would have made a little bit of a difference.”
Image: Millwall FC
