By Stephen 18
December 10 2004

Neil Harris seems likely to remain at Cardiff City after his loan period is up, judging by the quotes. The Millwall legend would be welcomed back with open arms by many of the fans, but he's way down the striking pecking order nowadays so it may be time for him to move on permanently. Neil Harris says he wants to move to Cardiff permanently.

The 27-year-old striker, who ironically equalled Teddy Sheringham's league scoring record of 93 goals against the Welsh club in October, joined on a month's loan last Friday.

Harris made his Cardiff debut as a 76th minute substitute at home to Gillingham on Saturday, and he said this week: "I have no doubt Cardiff if the place for me. I saw what a fantastic place it is while Millwall spent four days here for the FA Cup final.

"I almost joined Cardiff on loan a few months ago, but that fell through because Millwall picked up some injuries and wanted me to stay.

"I needed a fresh challenge, I wanted to join a big club and Cardiff City fit the bill. I'm shocked where they are in the table, but there is plenty of quality at the club to put that right.

"Now, though, I'm in Cardiff and I know I'm at the right club. My aim is to prove to the manager, coaches, players and fans I am worth a place in the team. I want to earn a contract at the end of my loan spell."

Cardiff manager Lennie Lawrence has also expressed a desire to keep Harris at Ninian Park permanently, but he faces another game on the bench this weekend as strikers Cameron Jerome and Peter Thorne both scored in the 3-1 win against Gillingham.

Lawrence said: "Neil is available in the summer on a free transfer, so we've done this with a view to perhaps making it a permanent signing.

"We'll see how things develop during the week, but I would expect Cameron to be alongside Peter Thorne against Sunderland."

Lions manager Dennis Wise said Harris wanted to leave. "Chopper came to see me a couple of months ago, and he saw Ray the other day. He said he wanted to play.

"Ray phoned me up about it and I said that he was not in the starting XI, so Chopper said he wanted to go.

"I'm not going to stop anyone that wants to do something like that. It was his choice. He needed to play games and he felt by going there he would do."