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Jed hails Thommo after midfielder almost departed club

By John Kelly

Johnk@southwarknews.co.uk

Jed wALLACe has hailed the resurgence of his “friend” ben Thompson this season.

Thompson, 25, has forced his way back into the team after being close to a move to Portsmouth before the start of this campaign. However, Millwall couldn’t find a replacement and Thompson stayed with his boyhood club but initially failed to gain a regular place in Gary Rowett’s team. Midfielder Thompson started only five league games before Christmas and there was some speculation in January over a move away.

But Rowett’s switch in formation from 5-2-3 to 5-3-2 gave Thompson the chance as an extra midfielder and he has taken it, starting ten Championship games this year and scoring twice (before Wednesday’s game).

Thompson is in his seventh season as a senior player and could pass the 200-game mark in 2021-22.

“Thommo’s another bubbly character, the lads love him, he’s a very popular member of our changing room and always has been,” Wallace said.

“I know Thommo a long time, I know his strengths and weaknesses. Thommo will be the first person to admit that he’s not the most well-rounded footballer in the division, but what he does is he affects games. He’s always done that for us.

“In key moments he pops up and he’ll hit one off his shin into the bottom corner. That’s what Thommo is all about, he affects football matches. He’s a big player for us and he’s a massive player to have in our squad.

“This season especially [it’s important to have] that energy and that drive, from people like Thommo and Danny McNamara, having that youthful enthusiasm.

“It’s little things with Thommo: He’ll win a header he never should win and it gives you a lift, especially without the crowd there. The style he plays rubs off on other people.

“It’s been really nice, for me as well because I really like him, he’s a close friend of mine, it’s always nice to see your friends in the team doing well.

“It helps me out because he runs around as much as me, it makes sure I can save a bit more energy.”

late dulwich hamlet coach honoured

Ben Thompson, left, celebrates his goal against Birmingham last month with Jon Dadi Bodvarsson

muZZa’s scot a chance

millwall defender hopes to catch eye ahead of euros

EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk

MurrAY wALLACe hasn’t given up hope of a Scotland call-up – and is using it as major motivation for the rest of this season.

Scotland qualified last year for the delayed Euro 2020 – their first major tournament since the World Cup in France in 1998 – and are in Group D alongside England, Croatia and Czech Republic.

Steve Clarke’s side have a tantalising fixture against the Auld Enemy at Wembley on June 18, their second game of the tournament.

Wallace has played for the Scotland under-20 and under-21 sides but has never received a senior call-up.

Scotland have two of the best left-backs in the Premier League in Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney of Arsenal, but aren’t as well-stocked at centre-back, meaning there could be an opening for Wallace.

Clarke’s centre-backs when Scotland qualified by beating Serbia 5-4 on penalties in November were Tierney, Manchester United’s Scott McTominay, a natural midfielder, and Declan Gallagher, a 30-year-old Motherwell defender who was called up for the first time in 2019.

Three Championship defenders were called up this week for the opening World Cup 2022 qualifiers: Grant Hanley (Norwich), Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday) and Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest).

Wallace admitted he has thought about a potential call-up.

“Yeah, there’s always that motivation,” Wallace said. “I was devastated to get injured, I was hoping to get in a lot of games and maybe put myself in with a shout of getting in there.

“That’s another reason I was massively disappointed to be injured but that’s a sort of motivation to kick on, put in some good performances and get some good results.

“You do that then hopefully you start to get noticed and you might be in with a chance of selection.”

Millwall have little to play for with nine games left this season with their play-off chances all but over and no danger of a relegation battle.

But, apart from his Scotland ambitions, Wallace wants a strong finish to the campaign to bring that momentum into 2021-22.

He said: “You could look at the table and see we’re so many points off the play-offs and so many points off relegation and say, ‘that’s us middle of the table, that’s where we’re going to finish’.

“But there are still those points to play for and they’re there to be won, you can never rule anything out.

“At this point you’ve just got to look at putting in a good performance in each game.

“Sometimes what I’ve noticed over my career is a really strong end to one season can kick into the following season. That’s massively important regardless of where we finish this season.” Murray Wallace

Go to newsatden.co.uk for the report and all the reaction after Millwall’s London derby against QPR on Wednesday night VS

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