ALEX Neil has clarified his comments on Kyrell Lisbie following Millwall’s 2-2 draw with Lincoln City last Saturday.

Lisbie, 22, has mostly played on the left wing since signing from League One side Peterborough United in the summer. He moved forward to play up front alongside Lyndon Dykes in the second half against the Imps and scored his first goal in a Millwall shirt just past the hour mark, firing under goalkeeper George Wickens after his initial effort was blocked. Jake Cooper then equalised 20 minutes later as the Lions came back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw.

Speaking to NewsAtDen on Tuesday, he explained what he meant.

“A natural winger is like a Romain [Esse], or Aidomo [Emakhu] or Femi [Azeez],” Neil said. “They want to get the ball and stay on the ball and go and try and beat people.

“I think Kyrell’s better when the ball’s put in front of him or when the ball comes into him and he gets an opportunity; he’d score. I don’t think he’s a touchline, give me the ball, I’m going to go and beat three players type winger.

“That’s not suggesting that he can’t beat somebody. There was one on Saturday; he did really well when he went on his left side, put the ball on his left foot for Mark Sykes at the back post right before half-time.

“Kyrell, in my opinion, certainly through working with him to this point, his best attribute is when the ball’s on the other side, and he’s coming at the back post – that’s where he gets his goal. That’s where I think he’s been at his strongest. That’s where he’s at his most threatening.

“On that side of the pitch as well – Zak Sturge’s emergence is because we’ve freed that channel up for him to get up and down all the time. It’s trying to get them to dovetail with each other and try to utilise both our strengths and let both of them show what they’re good at.”

Neil was frustrated to take Lisbie off in the 80th minute after the forward began to suffer from cramp. Lisbie had taken six of Millwall’s ten shots by the time he was substituted, with Zak Lovelace replacing him.

“Kyrell’s best trait is that he can score a goal,” Neil said. “He gets chances every single game.

“To clarify something from the weekend as well, I thought Kyrell was our most threatening player. Hence the reason why I was frustrated that I felt as if I needed to take him off, because I thought if anybody’s going to get us that next goal, it was going to be him.

“I thought he was probably the best performer at the weekend. It’s just trying to get that balance right with the personnel, as far as centre forwards not being available at the moment. Kyrell was good off them. He looked a threat.”

Lisbie has made eight appearances for the Lions this season, having played in the National League two seasons ago.

Asked how he had adapted to the step up to the Championship, Neil said: “Kyrell hasn’t been available for all the games. But what I will say is, in every single game that he’s played in, he’s looked a threat, and he’s had an opportunity to score a goal.

“He’s now got his first goal, which is great. He’s off the mark. I’m fully expecting him to score a lot more goals between now and the end of the season.

“It is a step up. Sometimes I need to correct myself a little bit in terms of the patience we do need to show for some of these players that have come from either different countries or different levels. It’s not easy to do that. I think he’s adapted well. He’s now getting to the stage where he’s playing longer and longer in games.

“That was part of my frustration at the weekend: the fact that you don’t want to take arguably your most threatening player off at a crucial time in the game when you think he might be able to win it.”