Shaun Hutchinson: “We believe we are strong enough to be minimum mid-table next season”

BY JAKE SANDERS

Millwall defender Shaun Hutchinson is excited for the start of the new Championship season – and thinks that a top-half finish is the minimum that the club should be targeting this term.

The Lions followed up their 8th-place finish in 2017/2018 by finishing just one place and four points above the relegation-zone, but the Lions vice-captain is hoping to put things right this season.

When asked what is realistic, Hutchinson said: ” It is hard to tell exactly where we are at because we have obviously got a lot of new players coming in, but we need to improve on last year and push on. We can’t get too carried away and expect ourselves to produce the 8th-place position again, but we certainly believe we are strong enough to be minimum mid-table.

“I think once the season starts you adjust to where you are at and where you stand, but I believe we have got off to a good start in pre-season and we are in a better place now than where we were this time last year, so that’s a positive.”

Millwall host La Liga side Real Sociedad in their final pre-season outing at The Den tomorrow, before the real thing gets underway when Preston North End visit Bermondsey on Saturday week – and the Lions defender cannot wait to get underway.

“Especially with the signings the manger has bought in, we are really looking forward to the start of the season,” he said. “I think a lot of the boys are optimistic about the season and seem pretty happy – one or two more might come through the door. With what happened last season, it was a bit of a struggle, we are looking forward to putting that right.”

The former Fulham man was named as the club’s Player of the Year in Millwall’s first season back in the Championship, but suffered a host of different injuries last season, plus a loss of form, which led to him losing his place in the side to Alex Peace towards the end of the campaign. But after completing his first 90 minutes of pre-season against Southend United on Wednesday evening, Hutchinson, who is feeling fit and healthy again, is ready to push on and fight for his place.

He said: “It was my first  90. I am happy where I am fitness wise, I felt like there was still a bit more in the tank towards the end of the game which is a good place to be in, in pre-season. Fitness wise I am where I would like to be.

“I had few niggles and a few health problems going on [last season], stomach bugs and it knocked me out for a little bit, but I have cut myself and got myself pretty fit in the off season.

“The most we can do is to compete for our places so when the gaffer goes to bed on a Friday night he is scratching his head because he doesn’t know who to play, that is all we can do and put in the best shift for pre-season and then it’s down to him from there.”