After Japhet Tanganga scored an injury-time winner for Millwall at the weekend, the defender has been commended by his manager, Neil Harris, for the way he has developed over the past few weeks.
After a difficult couple of years filled with injuries and very few minutes on the football pitch, Japhet Tanganga appears to have turned a corner right now with his loan spell at Millwall going very well of late.
Tottenham recalled Tanganga from a nightmare loan spell in Germany during the January transfer window, and shipped the 24-year-old to East London instead, to join Millwall until the end of the season.
So far, it has proven to be a successful move, with Tanganga scoring his first-ever senior goal last month in a win over Southampton. Now, the defender has bagged again, scoring the winner in a crucial win over Birmingham as Millwall fight to stay in the Championship.
Japhet Tanganga has grown as a player and a person
Speaking after his side’s win, Millwall manager Neil Harris described the way Tanganga has grown in recent weeks, and suggested this loan spell will be of benefit to Spurs.
Harris told Southwark News: “The reason players go on loan is because they need different experiences or they need minutes,” the Lions boss said. “We’ve got players on loan from clubs and once they come to us, it’s our responsibility to try progress and develop them as players.
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“Japh is a very talented footballer and one-on-one defender and if you come to Millwall, you come for different reasons. Everybody knows that, no one’s stupid in the game. Sometimes you’re not going to dominate the ball, you have to have backs to the wall, you’re going to be asked a lot of questions. And if you’re not prepared to do that as a player, don’t come to this football club.”
On the changes he has seen of late, Harris added: “Since I walked in the building, he’s grown in personality in three weeks already.
“I’ve seen his character change, I’ve seen the confidence in him. He spoke at half-time the other day and I was really delighted with it and the lads said that’s the first time they’ve heard him speak openly in front of the group with passion.
“I’m delighted. If I can help him develop in both penalty areas, give him an experience over the coming months that develops him as a man as well a player, then I think Japh will be happy but I’m sure Spurs will be as well.”
Spurs Web Opinion
While I don’t think Tanganga has a future at Spurs, the fact he is performing so well with Millwall is certainly doing him a world of good when it comes to finding a potential new home in the summer. There will be plenty of Championship clubs interested now.
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