100 goals or not - Harris could be history...

Last updated : 01 February 2008 By The Blue Pimpernel
Neil Harris
Harris: 100 not out?
Neil Harris hit his 100th goal for The Lions when he opened the scoring against Nottingham Forest last week, having notched his first for the club way back in September 1998 when he scored the equaliser against Northampton Town - his first in professional football - before running around the pitch like his head was about to explode.

He celebrated his goal against Forest in much the same manner, but that's Neil Harris for you. He wears his heart on his sleeve.

There's little doubt that Harris loves Millwall. He learned his trade at The Den, he grew up at the club and found out just how much the fans loved him when his career was almost cut short by cancer in the summer of 2001. Some thought he'd stay at the club for his entire career but a falling out with then manager Dennis Wise saw him unceremoniously packed off to Nottingham Forest - but not before he'd played in an FA Cup Final and the UEFA Cup for The Lions.

When he re-signed last season some questioned his ability and wondered whether it was merely sentiment rather than for footballing reasons. Harris soon shut his critics up with some superlative displays that helped propel The Lions up the table and almost to an unlikely play-off spot. This season hasn't gone so well however, with only two goals to his credit, and injury and playing out of position have contributed to these lowly figures. But strikers are judged on their goal return and with his current deal set to expire in the summer, Neil Harris could be on his way of The Den for a second time, eleven short of Teddy Sheringham's all-time goalscoring record.

Harris doesn't want to go, but the decision is Kenny Jackett's and so far he has yet to offer The Lions legend a new deal. As David Beckham found out earlier this week, there is no room for sentiment in modern day football but surely Harris has done enough to at least earn a year's extension? Jackett has already proved he doesn't suffer fools gladly by getting rid of Ben May but May was never going to emulate Harris - in either goal ratio or attitude - and the former Watford man may recognise the other qualities that the veteran striker brings to the side, including his never-say-die spirit.

As for Sheringham's record, Harris has made it clear that that is what he wants more than anything before he hangs up his boots.

"I am delighted and it is a great honour to have scored 100 league goals for a club I love so much," he told the club's official site. "But it's another milestone that I want - and that's the all-time record."

Whether he'll get the chance to surpass that record remains to be seen.