Pundit ‘surprised’ to see club sign Tottenham man in ‘absolutely brilliant’ form

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Tottenham Hotspur loanee Japhet Tanganga continues to be an ‘absolutely brilliant’ addition to Millwall with the former Premier League youngster inspiring his new club’s survival charge. 

It’s remarkable, really, to think that the former England under-21 international has played more minutes since joining Millwall in January than across the previous 18 months combined.

After falling out of favour at Tottenham Hotspur and after failing to force his way into the Augsburg squad during a forgettable spell in Germany, Japhet Tanganga arrived at The Den with a point to prove.  

And prove it he is. A series of colossal contributions at either end providing a timely reminder as to why the now-24-year-old defender was so highly regarded at Spurs only a few seasons back. 

Tottenham loanee turning into Millwall’s talisman

“It’s lovely to see what we are seeing with Japhet Tanganga,” EFL expert Ali Maxwell says on the Not the Top 20 Podcast. “It’s obviously someone who is quite well known to Premier League fans, and clearly it’s been a difficult few years for him. 

“The loss of confidence that you can imagine, the loss of rhythm… It must be really difficult. So it’s great to see that he has regained it at Millwall.”

Tanganga scored his first ever senior goal – at the 56th attempt no less – during Millwall’s shock win at Southampton in February. He repeated the trick against relegation rivals Birmingham City on Saturday too, the Spurs-owned centre-back thumping in a 90^th minute winner which could yet prove to be a massive moment in Millwall’s survival push. 

With three wins in four since the return of club legend Neil Harris in the dugout – Tanganga scoring in two of those – The Lions are roaring their way towards the dizzying heights of mid-table. 

‘Absolutely brilliant’

“I certainly was surprised when I saw Millwall sign Tanganga on loan,” Maxwell adds, two-and-a-half years after the Tottenham graduate was named Man of the Match in a 1-0 victory over Manchester City to kick off the Nuno Espirito Santo era in North London.

“Just because we are used to seeing him play big matches for Spurs.

“Tanganga has been absolutely brilliant. A really front-footed defender, seems to absolutely adore defending. Some of their victories under Harris has been Tanganga’s defensive displays which have helped them get over the line and, here, it was a great header.”