Millwall came within touching distance of bouncing back to the second tier of English football last year, but suffered a heartbreaking 3-1 defeat at the hands of Barnsley in the play-off final.

Although, Millwall fans remain upbeat and confident about the forthcoming campaign and live in hope that this year will be the year when they return to the Sky Bet Championship.

Millwall legend and manager Neil Harris has managed to keep the core group of players from last season together, and added two more bodies to the squad in the form of defender Shaun Hutchinson and Winger David Worrall.

This article takes a look at the THREE players who will form the core of the team next season.....

 

Jordan Archer

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Any good team must be built on the solid foundations of a reliable consistent goalkeeper, and in Jordan Archer, Millwall have just that.

Archer signed for Millwall in the summer of 2015 on a two-year deal following his release from Tottenham Hotspur.

While at Tottenham he failed to make a single appearance for the first team and was shipped out on various loan spells to gain first team experience, he enjoyed loan spells at the likes of non league Bishop's Stortford and also League Two clubs Wycombe Wanderers and Northampton Town.

Last season, Archer produced many top class goalkeeping displays to help Millwall to the play-off final and was awarded the clubs player of the year award for the season, he made 49 appearances throughout the last campaign.

He has been capped by the Scottish national team at under 19, 20 and 21 levels and will be harbouring hopes of a call up to the senior team.

Steve Morison

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Former Welsh international Steve Morison is the next on the list, Morison is currently in his second spell at The Den and is a huge favourite amongst the fans.

Morison's first spell with Millwall was a prolific spell, during the two years he was with the club he made 95 appearances scoring an impressive 40 goals.

His impressive performances then earned him a move to newly promoted Premier League side Norwich City where he enjoyed another two year spell at Carrow Road, he made 59 appearances scoring 12 goals before a move to Yorkshire club Leeds United where an unsuccessful spell resulted in him being loaned out to Millwall during their relegation campaign from the Championship.

Morison had a successful loan spell making 42 appearances scoring 8 goals, he then re-joined the club on a permanent basis in the summer of 2015 for an undisclosed fee.

Last season he was a key figure in the Millwall team and the fans down at The Den will be hopeful that he can replicate the same sort of form showed last season, and help them fight their way back into the 2nd tier.

Lee Gregory

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Prolific striker Lee Gregory has been the subject of intense transfer speculation this summer, and has been the subject of numerous bids from Championship sides.

Lee Gregory had a terrific campaign last year as he ended the joint 5th top scorer in League one with a tally of 20 goals, he is a big strong athletic forward with a keen eye for goal and has become a big fans favourite down at The Den.

Millwall fans are desperate for the club to reject any further bids for the frontman and are hopeful that he will be turning out in the Millwall jersey next season.

If so, he will most likely be a huge part of the team and be their man source of goals as he was in the previous season.