Coburn joined Millwall on a season-long loan last summer, and while his time at the Den has been punctuated by a couple of significant injury issues, he has made a positive impression during his time on the pitch.
The 22-year-old has scored five goals in ten Championship starts and six substitute appearances this term, with his form a major factor in Millwall’s rise to ninth place in the table, level on points with Middlesbrough.
Coburn was unable to play against his parent club as Millwall beat Boro at the Den at the weekend, but the forward is expected to return to Neil’s starting line-up for Friday’s game at Blackburn Rovers as the Lions attempt to maintain their push for the play-offs.
And while Michael Carrick continues to insist that Boro will assess their options over Coburn’s future in the summer, with the academy product contracted until the summer of 2027, Neil will be doing everything he can to try to engineer a permanent transfer ahead of the start of next term.
“I’d absolutely love to keep him here,” said the Millwall boss. “I don’t think that’s any secret with Josh. I think he really enjoys it here, and I’ve changed things because of him.
“I very rarely play with two players up front, it’s never really been my shape as a coach, but when you’ve got someone like Josh, it’s worth playing him as part of a two because your goal threat goes up by doing that.”
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Coburn’s ability was never in doubt during his time in the Boro squad, but his robustness was questioned because of the number of injury issues he experienced and his ability to withstand the physical rigours of a Championship campaign was called into question as a result.
This season’s injury problems have been unfortunate, with a broken metatarsal following an earlier ankle issue, but when he has been fit, Coburn has looked a much stronger and more robust proposition than was perhaps the case at the start of his career.
The towering forward appears to have grown into his body, and Millwall’s coaching staff have spent a lot of time working on his core strength and physical fitness. The results were apparent earlier this month when Coburn scored the only goal of the game as Millwall won at Bramall Lane and repeatedly unsettled a Sheffield United defence that is generally regarded as one of the most physically powerful in the Championship.
“I think he’ll be hugely important in the final few games of the season,” said Neil. “He put an unbelievable performance in for us at Sheffield United. I’ve been really big on his physicality, in terms of him using his physical presence. I thought he did that at Sheffield United superbly.
“You know he’s doing something right when Chris Wilder is moaning at you that he’s beating up (Jack) Robinson. I was buzzing at that. That doesn’t happen very often, Chris normally likes a bit of wrestling and physicality. I thought Josh beat them up really, and that’s what he’s in our team to do.
“He’s in there to be a physical presence because if he can do that, then we know he’s got really good feet for a big guy and he can score a goal. He’s good in the air too, so he’s got a lot to his game, he just needs time to develop. We believe in him here, and we’ll give him the time that’s necessary.”