Millwall sign Henry on loan, again

Championship side Millwall have signed Reading winger James Henry on loan until the end of the year, as the player begins his second spell at the club, having scored three goals in 16 appearances last season.

The 20-year-old is expected to go straight into the squad for Saturday’s game at Gillingham.

The club are also understood to be close to agreeing a deal for their former defender Darren Ward to return to the New Den on loan from Wolves.

Ward was also a pre-deadline target for Millwall’s League One neighbours Charlton, who spent time on loan last season at The Valley.

“Wolves wanted a fee for him,” said Charlton boss Gary Parkinson.

“And, because he’s on a good contract, he was out of our wage structure.

“Darren did great for us last year and he’s someone we looked at, but around the time of the deadline it was too expensive to take that any further.”

Londoner Ward, who turns 31 on Sunday, had the most successful spell of his much-travelled career at Millwall between October 2001 and May 2005.

After signing for £500,000 from Watford, he made 161 appearances before moving on to Crystal Palace for a seven-figure fee.

He spent two seasons at Selhurst Park. But he has made just 31 appearances for Wolves since being signed by Mick McCarthy on a free in July 2007. And he was twice loaned out last season, first back to his first club Watford, then to Charlton.