Millwall youngster has had excellent season – but still admits to a spot of jealousy about missed silverware

A new long-term contract and then winning Millwall’s Young Player of the Season award has ensured life is good for Danny McNamara.

But that doesn’t mean the 22-year-old defender won’t have a tinge of regret tomorrow afternoon.

McNamara’s storming displays on loan at St Johnstone saw him recalled by his boyhood club in the January transfer window and handed game time by Gary Rowett.

But the Perth club will lift the Scottish Cup if they can see off Hibernian at Hampden Park this weekend, with Callum Davidson’s side already winning the Scottish League Cup at the same venue at the end of February.

McNamara made 22 Premiership appearances as linking back up with Davidson, who had been Rowett’s number two at the Lions, proved hugely successful for both parties.

“St Johnstone have done absolutely brilliant this season,” said the Sidcup-born right-back. “Callum has done such a good job.

“I was gutted leaving St Johnstone but also over the moon to be coming back to my club.

“I was speaking to my dad the other day and saying I’m a little bit jealous that I’m not there and involved in the games. It would’ve been great to have had the chance of some silverware.

“But it is one of those things. It is a positive for me being called back. I don’t really have too many regrets.

“I can’t complain. I wish them all the best and can’t thank them enough for what they did for me.

“I texted Callum after they won the semi final. He always gets back to me and we have little chats. He was my manager at St Johnstone, but I also see him as a friend now.”

McNamara made his Millwall debut in the FA Cup victory at Boreham Wood in early January. He went on to start the next six Championship matches before Mahlon Romeo earned a recall.

McNamara was drafted back in for the final nine matches of the campaign, making way at half-time in the 6-1 loss at Coventry for player-coach Shaun Williams.

It proved to be the Irish midfielder’s farewell outing as confirmation followed that he would not be offered a contract extension.

“I remember him coming from Milton Keynes and I was watching him in the stands,” said McNamara.

“I loved him as a player. Playing alongside him the last few months has been brilliant. We’ll keep in contact.

“I’ve been good friends with him for four or five years now. He has been nothing but class with me, especially this season – he helped me out massively at St Johnstone. He was watching every single game, reporting back to me what I can do better and how well I did.

“Willo was feeding back to the gaffer as well, which helped me out.

He is a legend and will always be remembered at this club.”

When McNamara made his temporary cross border switch his future was up in the air.

His form for the Saints, coupled with a seamless and impressive transition into the senior ranks at Millwall, ensured he was tied down on longer terms.

“I feel like I’ve had a really good season,” said McNamara. “Everything that I dreamed of, happened. I didn’t realise making my Millwall debut would come so soon.

“My plan was to try and impress at St Johnstone and try to get called back to break into the first-team here. I did it earlier than I thought.

“It’s been a very memorable season for myself and my family. It’s been positive for me.”

Rowett’s predecessor Neil Harris always talked about young players needing to accrue 100 matches before they could count themselves as an established professional.

McNamara is 26 shy of a century of senior outings.

He has absolutely no intention to take his foot off the gas after a breakthrough season.

“The type of person I am, I’m not the sort to be happy with 74 games,” said McNamara. “I want to develop as much as I can. I want to play my part in the team and be a regular starter.”

He has had five loans in total. Three of those – Welling, Dover and Havant & Waterlooville – came when he was part of Millwall’s development squad.

The most he has played for any club is 23 games while at Newport in the 2019-20 season. Only a double groin operation halted his stay.

“That was an over-use injury,” explained McNamara. “I was playing with that for two or three months. It got to the point where I was lying in bed or sitting in my car and it was so hard to get up.

“I had an abductor release on both sides. I was probably out for three or four months, but because of the whole covid situation it probably backdated a bit as well.

“There was no real rush for me. I had an extra month or so before I had to come back in.

“Every loan I’ve been on I have progressed and done well.

“St Johnstone was more successful because I did the whole six months and then came back and played games at Millwall.

“But both [his two most recent periods away from the Lions] were so beneficial for me. And I probably wouldn’t be where I am now without those loans.

“Next season is going to be brilliant. I can’t wait to be playing in front of the fans. We’d been saying in the changing room that the fans make such a big difference. That can help us out next season.”