'My family cried with happiness at Millwall move'

Millwall fan Alfie Doughty will realise a lifelong dream on Saturday when he hopes to make his debut for the club against Norwich City.

The 25-year-old wide player grew up watching the Lions at The Den and will now follow in the footsteps of his idols after securing a move to the south-east Londoners from Luton Town this summer.

Doughty, who made 105 appearances over three seasons for The Hatters, including 57 in the Championship, was part of the squad relegated to League One last season.

"I've always said I wanted to play for the Lions and the fact it's happened sooner than I thought is even better, so I'm really happy and I can't wait to start," he told BBC Radio London.

"I rang my dad as he was at [Royal] Ascot races, and apparently him and my uncle started crying."

Doughty is one of six new signings in Alex Neil's squad. Zak Sturge and Josh Coburn's loans from Chelsea and Middlesbrough, respectively, have been made permanent, with Millwall spending a club-record fee on 22-year-old striker Coburn.

Australia international Massimo Luongo and goalkeepers Max Crocombe and Steven Benda have also joined, while midfielders George Saville and George Honeyman have moved on to Luton and Blackpool respectively.

'I knew last season I wanted to come back' - Coburn

Coburn arrived at the club on loan in January after Neil took over as head coach, and scored five goals in 21 appearances as he formed a promising strike partnership with Mihailo Ivanovic.

The Lions missed out on the play-offs on the final day of the Championship season and Coburn said the players are confident they can push for a top-six place again this time round.

"I think at the end of last season I knew I wanted to come back. The lads have been great, the manager's been great, I've really enjoyed being back here for pre-season and now the real stuff starts," he said.

"We're really confident. I think we showed at the back end of last season what we're really about, and we're all prepared and ready to go.

"I know how much potential the team's got and how well I think we can do. Hopefully, we can prove it this season."

'Being Millwall captain is an honour' - Cooper

New club captain Jake Cooper is about to embark on his ninth season with the club since making a permanent move to The Den from Reading in 2017.

In that time, the centre-back has played 363 games and scored 27 goals. And this season he takes on the captaincy full-time after Shaun Hutchinson left the club at the end of his contract.

"I have done [worn the captain's armband] many times now on the pitch but to have full control of the club captaincy now is obviously an honour for me, for such a special club. I feel really honoured to have that opportunity," Cooper said.

Millwall begin the new Championship campaign at Carrow Road on Saturday before a trip to Wales to face Newport County in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

"I don't think our record's too good going there, so we've got something to prove going to Carrow Road," Cooper added.

"They've obviously got a new manager and a new style so it's going to be a great opener to see what the Championship's going to be about this year."

Their first home match of the season comes on Saturday, 16 August against Middlesbrough.