Millwall midfielder describes his scoring record as ‘streaky’ – but fully confident of greater attacking returns

George Honeyman has described his scoring record as “streaky” and believes his next run of net gains is just around the corner.

The 28-year-old joined Millwall in the summer from Hull City and has notched once since – the 3-2 win over Coventry City at The Den in August.

The former Sunderland captain had scored all five of his 2021-22 haul for the Tigers by January 19 last year.

“It’s absolutely key that we get goals from everywhere and I’ve definitely got to chip in with more,” Honeyman told the South London Press. “I generally don’t feel like I’m far away. The goals in my career have all been in the box, picking up second balls or being the first one to latch on to it.

“In recent weeks I feel like I’m getting closer and the ball is just going past me. It’s one of those where I think I’ll streak into a few goals in a row. I’ve just got to be persistent and keep getting in the box, be proactive about it.

“I’m kind of streaky, in that way, in my career.

“History will tell you that when I score one then I’ll probably go on and get four in a month – then I might have a couple of months without scoring. It can be frustrating.

“Hopefully I can time a little run now. I need to keep getting in the right areas, especially playing out on the right [wing] at the moment. I need to keep making the box from the opposite flankand keep providing for the lads as well.

“If I’m not scoring I want to help setting them up. I feel I’m doing quite well in that aspect. I’m setting up chances. I can’t control the finishes on them. I need to keep being influential in the final third. I’m sure the assist and goal tally will start going up.”

Just under half of Honeyman’s 23 Championship appearances have come as a substitute for the Lions.

With Zian Flemming having the number 10 role locked down, it means Honeyman is scrapping for a wide attacking spot against the likes of Tyler Burey, Mason Bennett and academy prospect Romain Esse.

“It’s been a bit stop-start,” said Honeyman, when asked for his take on his first six months at Millwall.

“I’ve had phases in the team and phases out. That’s part of being in a good squad and also something from not maybe nailing down a shirt and lots of lads vying for positions constantly.

“I’ve given myself a solid base to go on and be successful here. I’m pretty certain that I will be, like I have at every club, once I find my feet and find my confidence with the lads.

“It’s been a decent start, nothing to shout from the rooftops. Once I start adding a few more goals and assists it will start looking like a really good season for me.

“In the second half of the season I’m looking forward to kicking on and taking my performances up a notch, keep helping us progress.”

Millwall have only lost once in the league since the start of November – a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland in the first action after the shutdown for the World Cup in Qatar.

Honeyman’s return to his boyhood club did not go to plan.

“I felt we had a really good first half and that if we got a goal straight after half-time then we’d go on and get a really good result,” he said. “It went the opposite way – they scored and it went really downhill.

“It’s the Championship, there are that many games that it is hard to look for patterns.

“Since then we’ve had a really good reaction. There is still a long way to go. There are going to be more downs in the season and it’s how we react to them. We’ve reacted really well, so far, to negative results and negative patches. If you keep that mentality going we’ll be on course for a successful season.

“I’d been back [to the Stadium of Light] before with Hull but it was during Covid. That didn’t quite feel like I was going back. To play in front of 30,000 again was really nice and a lot of people said some really nice things to me. You don’t know how much you’ve missed it until you go back. But I’m also looking forward to showing them the Den on February 4 as well.”

Next up is a trip to in-form Middlesbrought tomorrow.

“I’m looking forward to playing against them, seeing how they are playing under Michael Carrick,” said Honeyman. “I watched a couple of their highlights – it looks like they are playing end to end footy. Chances at both ends. Hopefully we can exploit that in ways that suit us.

“We’ve got to be wary because they have got loads of quality players, attacking and defending.”