Loan interest in Millwall striker – as boss Rowett outlines plan for in-form youngster

Gary Rowett has revealed Millwall have already had a number of loan enquiries for Isaac Olaofe.

The 21-year-old striker scored his 14th National League goal of the season as Sutton clinched the title on Sunday.

And Lions boss Rowett is determined that the next step with Olaofe ensures that the young Lewisham-born attacker continues to make progress in his career.

“He falls into that category that he has done so well you wouldn’t want to lose that momentum,” Rowett told the South London Press. “We would be able to get him out on loan next year, we have already had several enquiries.

“The plan is for me to have a good conversation with Tanto next week, see how he has found it and the little things that have helped his development and then make a decision in pre-season. We are not in a rush. You often haven’t signed as many as you want at the start of pre-season, so there is often an opening in the squad or group for the first two friendlies and the trip away.

“Depending who we sign in the summer, he could come into the group and have an impact and we might feel that is wasting his chance of developing further. That is the debate for us, but it is a nice debate to have.

“I think we’ll have the same debate with Alex Mitchell, who has done really well at Bromley. He is another where we’ll probably have league interest.

“It is always about how we can get young players to first-team level. Danny McNamara had three or four loans before he got to that point. It is a really fine line each time, when is the right time to involve them?

“Tanto has had a really interesting season. He went to Scotland with Danny and it didn’t quite work out. Maybe that was being away from home and London, he was not getting as much game time. It is different for every young player and how they cope with it. Junior Tiensia has had a completely difference experience at Sutton.

“Tanto has fitted into Sutton’s group really well, scored goals and added a little bit of composure to his finishing. He has got real raw pace and power, which everybody is looking for. But he needed that little bit of composure with some of his finishes.

“We need to see if that loan has developed him forward a lot. I’m not suggesting it is going to happen, but I remember Dean Sturridge coming back from a loan at Torquay and taking it by storm [at Derby], he scored a load of goals to get us promoted.

“We saw with Danny that he came back and looked a completely different player. Who knows if Tonto or Alex will have the same impact? You don’t know.”

MAIN PICTURE: ROB AVIS