Millwall FC: Josh Coburn development spells real trouble for Macaulay Langstaff | OneFootball

Coburn has been impressive since his return from injury, which could ultimately push Langstaff permanently down the pecking order.

Josh Coburn’s impactful return from injury could spell real trouble for Macaulay Langstaff’s Millwall future.

Coburn returned from a lengthy injury lay-off recently and netted a stoppage-time winner to snatch all three points for his side away at Derby last weekend.

If he finds form between now and the end of the season, it could tempt Millwall to explore the possibility of turning his loan deal from Middlesbrough into a permanent one – something they reportedly showed an interest in earlier this year.

If that were to happen, it would likely push Langstaff down the pecking order on a permanent basis and potentially could even result in him exiting the club.

The former Notts County man is currently sidelined with his own injury but, having struggled to adapt to Championship level since his summer move from League Two, has found gametime hard to come by at times.

Macaulay Langstaff has been disappointing so far

Millwall have collectively had big issues in front of goal this season. Although the Lions currently find themselves sitting in 12th and just six points outside the play-off positions, they have netted just 34 times all season.

That tally is better than only four other teams (Oxford, Hull, Derby and Luton), who all find themselves in relegation trouble.

Duncan Watmore and Mihailo Ivanovic are currently the top scorers for Alex Neil’s side with five apiece in the league, but the reality is that almost every option Millwall have looked at to lead their line this season has been disappointing.

Coburn has the best record with three league goals from 11 games but has hardly been prolific. Meanwhile, Aaron Connolly is yet to find his feet in front of goal after joining the club in January.

However, it is Langstaff who has arguably been the biggest disappointment. Despite having never played higher in the pyramid than League Two, the Teesider arrived at the Den after three consecutive goal-laden years saw him become one of the most dangerous frontmen in the lower leagues.

He notched 32 goals in all competitions as Gateshead won the National League North title back in 2021/22. He then moved to Notts County for a fee believed to be in the region of £50,000 and plundered 42 league goals, all from open play, as the Magpies regained their Football League status after a successful play-off campaign.

That 2022/23 season saw Langstaff break both the National League’s and the club’s record for most strikes in a single season. He then made it three consecutive Golden Boot Awards last term when he finished his first-ever EFL campaign with 28 league goals.

Given the unbelievable number of chances he had created for him in Notts’ possession-heavy system, there were always going to be question marks over whether Millwall (and at the time, a Neil Harris side) would be a good fit for him.

The Lions forked out a fee in the region of £700,000 for his services and have so far been repaid with one single league strike. He has made 28 Championship appearances this term but is averaging just 46 minutes per game.

For the fee they parted with, it’s fair to say Millwall would’ve expected the 28-year-old to make more of an impact.

Josh Coburn’s return could see Macaulay Langstaff pushed down the pecking order permanently

Langstaff is already out of favour at Millwall having started just two league games since the turn of the year and, if Coburn continues to impress, it could spark a chain of events that would see him firmly down the pecking order on a permanent basis.

If the Middlesbrough loanee can bring the goals that Millwall need between now and the end of the season, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see them push to bring him to South London on a permanent basis.

With Ivanovic already ahead of Langstaff and Connolly providing Premier League experience, a permanent move for Coburn could leave the former Notts’ man on the edge of the squad.

While his rise from non-league has been hugely impressive, now 28, Langstaff doesn’t have too much time left if he wants to continue to progress his career.

With that in mind, it was somewhat surprising not to see him head out on loan during the January transfer window. However, if Coburn can prove himself to be the perfect man for the job at the Den, it could well spell the end of Langstaff’s time at the club sooner rather than later.