Liam Millar says life at Preston North End couldn’t be going much better for him, although he feels there’s still more to come.
The tricky wideman arrived at Deepdale on deadline day on a season-long loan from Basel feeling he had a point to prove in the English game, having played just once for Liverpool and spent half-a-season with Charlton Athletic in League One.
There’s no doubting that he’s shown what he can do during his 23 appearances for the club – playing a direct role in eight goals and being a constant bright spark.
Liam said: “I think it couldn’t have gone any better at the moment. I’m still trying to add more goals and assists to my game, but that’s me being critical.
“The most important thing for me was to come here and get my confidence back and show everyone how good I can be, and I think so far I’ve done that and I just want to keep that going.”
It’s not all been straightforward for the left winger, though, with teams often now committing two or three men to limit his threat out on the left.
That seems to be becoming a regular theme in North End matches, with opponents now knowing the impact the Canada international can have.
“I think that’s the downside of being dangerous,” he said. “I think you have to try and find different solutions to deal with that. Maybe I have to come inside off the line a little bit more. Maybe I’ve got to run in behind a little bit more.
“I’ve got to think more in the game now than I had to before because it’s not one, it’s two, and it can be three [defending against me], so I have to find different solutions to mix up my game so I’m not predictable. I think that’s the biggest thing.
“That’s what I’ve struggled with in the past and I’m really trying now to focus on that type of stuff because I want to be able to play against two, play against three, so I don’t become as ineffective when I’m doubled or tripled up on.
“It’s difficult having two or three players around you, but I think if I can find a solution – whatever that may be – it’ll make my life and hopefully the team’s life a lot easier.”
Fresh from his early assist against Leeds United last Sunday, Liam and his teammates are now preparing for a trip to the capital to take on Millwall.
A ninth of the season for Keano. 🔥@liammillar11 with his fifth assist of the campaign. 🤝#pnefc pic.twitter.com/w6KtUmRpgm
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) January 22, 2024
It’ll be Liam’s first experience of The Den, despite living nearby earlier in his life when he was with Fulham and Charlton Athletic.
“I’ve heard stories for sure,” he said. “I used to live in London. I used to play for Charlton so it was kind of round the corner from there but I’ve never played there and I’m obviously expecting quite a hostile and intense environment.
“We’ve got to be ready for that, but I think we will be. We’ve gone to hostile places this season and done well so hopefully it’ll be the same again.
“I think these hostile environments almost help us in a way because as hostile as they are towards us, they can also be hostile towards them, so we’ve got to just try and play our game and hope things fall into the right path.”