KENNY Jackett is looking to see immediate benefits this season after The Den pitch was relaid over the summer.

Historically Millwall have been a club who can proudly boast of a strong home record but that wasn’t the case last year as the Lions lost nine times on their own patch last season.

It is fair to say the pitch looked in a very poor state, especially from Christmas onwards, but that has all changed after the club forked out big bucks to install a new surface for the first time since the Millwall switched to their present home in 1993.

Jackett said: “We’ve spent about quarter of a million on the pitch this year and improved the youth policy, things that do help the infrastructure of the club.

“It was the original pitch laid when The Den was built almost 20 years ago, so it has done well.

“But it was time to renew it and the board have done so - it was necessary.

“It will suit our style of football as well.

“Remember we are talking about consistently being a Championship club.

“It’s a very good standard of football and you do need a good playing surface to reflect that.”

This will be Millwall’s third season in the Championship but Jackett isn’t resting on his laurels on the assumption the Lions are now established at this level.

He said: “You have to keep reproving it, that is the beauty of football and we have to reprove it again this season.

“We are looking forward to it, it is a good challenge and a great league to be in.

“We are very positive about it and looking forward to the new season.

“You always want a good start.

“If in the first dozen games you can compete, play well and pick up points it does give you belief that you are going along the right lines for the season.

“It gives the players and supporters a lot of hope and something to then build the winter months on.”

The contents of this article must not be reproduced without the permission of News Shopper.

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt