Shaun Hutchinson revealed that expectations have increased at Millwall for the upcoming season as ‘there is a lot the team and staff aren’t accepting anymore.’

Millwall finished last season only one place above the relegation zone, and with Neil Harris explaining that he had to deal with numerous off the pitch issues there has been a squad overhaul in the summer.

When asked whether the seven new signings have increased the intensity of training Hutchinson said:

“It has been a breath of fresh air, the tempo in training has gone up. Expectations have gone up. There’s a lot as a team and staff that we’re not accepting anymore, we are making sure we are on it this year.

“With signings the manager has brought in we’re really looking forward to the season. A lot of the boys are optimistic about the season, looking at what we’ve got we’re pretty happy and one or two more might come through the door.”

With that said, Hutchinson expressed his enthusiasm to improve on last season’s poor showing as the Lions look to climb up the Championship table this campaign.

“Last season was a bit of a struggle and we’re looking forward to putting that right.

“It is hard to tell exactly where we are at because we have obviously got a lot of new players coming in, but we need to improve on last year and push on. We can’t get too carried away and expect ourselves to produce the 8th-place position again, but we certainly believe we are strong enough to be minimum mid-table.”

“Once the season starts you get to see where you stand. I believe we’ve got off to a good start in pre-season and we’re in a better place now than where we were last year. That’s a big positive.”

After being voted Millwall’s Player of the Year for the 2017/18 season, Hutchinson experienced numerous freak injuries throughout last campaign, including sickness bugs and even causing a knee injury when he was taking the bins out.

As a result, the defender lost his place in the side to now club captain Alex Pearce but the former Fulham man said he is looking forward to the healthy competition for the centre-back role.

“It was my first 90.” Hutchinson said after the defeat to Southend United.

I am happy where I am fitness wise, I felt like there was still a bit more in the tank towards the end of the game which is a good place to be in, in pre-season. Fitness wise I am where I would like to be.

“I had few niggles and a few health problems going on [last season], stomach bugs and it knocked me out for a little bit, but I have cut myself and got myself pretty fit in the off season.

“The most we can do with everybody competing for places is that when the gaffer goes to bed on a Friday he’s scratching his head because he doesn’t know who to play.”