New signing Bannan will provide 'extra quality' - Neil

Millwall boss Alex Neil has backed new signing Barry Bannan to provide the "extra bit of quality" his side will need if they are to earn a long-awaited return to the top flight for the first time since 1990.

A 4-0 thumping of south London rivals Charlton Athletic last Saturday means the Lions sit fifth in the Championship, six points off the top two with 17 regular-season fixtures remaining, and have not had a better chance at gatecrashing the Premier League since reaching the Division One play-off semi-finals in 2001-02.

Neil has now brought in 36-year-old Bannan from Sheffield Wednesday, after the midfielder spent more than 10 years at Hillsborough - five and a half of which he was club captain - to help boost his side's promotion credentials.

Added to his established experience and leadership qualities, Neil is confident that fellow Scotsman Bannan's technical ability will become an immediate advantage to his side too.

"Obviously, it's been well documented for a while now so it's good to get it over the line," Neil told BBC Radio London.

"Hopefully it gives us an extra bit of quality, experience, a bit of knowhow for the run-in. [It's] a good bit of business.

"Anything that can come in and help us try and achieve something, I think is more than welcome. I think Barry's experience and that little bit of quality he's got on the edge of the box with his left foot - picking passes, at set-plays and goals - is going to be helpful for us."

Bannan is expected to make his Millwall debut against former foes Sheffield United at The Den on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Neil went on to reject any suggestion that Bannan's long-standing association with beleaguered Sheffield Wednesday, who he will return to as a Millwall player on Saturday, 14 February, means he arrives without full focus on his new surroundings following his transfer.

"If he didn't want to make the move, he wouldn't be here," Neil added.

"A lot has been made of Sheffield Wednesday, and I get it, but if I'm being honest my focus is on what Barry does for us from this point onwards.

"We're as an attractive prospect as we've ever been. We're filling out The Den. Our last game was the biggest attendance we've had [this season] and the second biggest ever.

"So, we're in a really good place as a club. We've got a great and an ambitious owner and the lads are doing well, so there's nothing not to like."