Maik-or-break summer for Kieftenbeld – Millwall midfielder on his contract expiring this summer

Maikel Kieftenbeld is perfectly happy to focus on Millwall’s play-off challenge and leave contract talks until their Championship campaign is over.

The Dutch defensive midfielder turns 32 in June and his deal expires this summer.

Gary Rowett has twice signed Kieftenbeld -initially while Birmingham manager in July 2015, snapping him up from FC Groningen, and then bringing him to the Lions’ Den in January 2021.

Tomorrow’s home game against Peterborough could be Kieftenbeld’s final outing in SE16 if the South Londoners miss out on the top six and his terms are not renewed.

“I’ve been in this situation a couple of times in my career when I was younger and there is more pressure when you’re out of contract,” said the former Holland U21 international.

“I spoke to the club during the season and they told me they would look at it at the end of the season, which is fair enough. I can understand – there are more important things than Maikel Kieftenbeld at the moment because we are pushing for the play-offs.

“I’m confident the club or the manager will get in contact with me at the end of the season about my future.

“If you get an injury now you’re not happy [because it could hamper his options] but at this stage of my career it is really important to play for a manager who I trust and who trusts me. It is really important he wants me in the squad because I want to feel respected.

“The season is not that long any more, it will only be days or weeks, and then we’ll go from there.”

Kieftenbeld, who will make his 40th appearance for the Lions if he features against the Posh, underlined a number of factors will come into the decision-making process.

“That’s why you want to talk about it with the manager and the club,” he said. “Do they want me here or not? Do they see me in their team next season?

“I’m not from England and there will be a time that I go back to Holland to be around my family and friends a bit more.

“I know I love England, I love the Championship and I love Millwall – the fans and the people who work here. I’m really enjoying it.

“When I first signed for Birmingham, I never thought I would stay this long in England but it is just the people, the clubs, the fans and the whole atmosphere in the stadiums. First I saw it at Birmingham and now I see it at Millwall.”

Asked if anything had surprised him since joining the Lions, Kieftenbeld said: “Yes, just the togetherness of this club, team and squad. Everyone is fully together.

“Maybe that is because at Birmingham people came and went like nothing – the squad and managers were changing all the time. This club has got real people who have been here for such a long time. Not only the players but also other staff. It’s something I really love about here.”

Millwall are still in the play-off equation with two matches to go, even if the likes of Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Blackburn all have better goal differences.

“It is nice to have something to play for at the end of the season,” said Kieftenbeld. “I’ve not been used to this situation.

“At Birmingham we did really well in my first season there and we were up there halfway through the second season and the manager here now, Gary Rowett, was changed halfway through and we ended up nowhere near it.

“In my last seasons there we were fighting against relegation all the time and that is real pressure – negative pressure.

“I wouldn’t call this pressure, I’d call it excitement.

“You can tell the fans are enjoying it as well when you see how many were at Birmingham and the home games.

“I’m driving to training in the morning with a smile on my face and that is really great for me.

“He [Rowett] is doing an amazing job.

“If you asked all the teams before the start of the season what their goal is then 80 per cent would say: ‘We’re going for the play-offs’. Twenty per cent, or maybe less, would only say to stay in the league. There are 24 teams and only six can finish in those positions, that’s why the Championship is such a tough league.

“Last season we were in and around it and this season we are even closer.”