Millwall boss explains playing strategy for Bromley loan hit Alex Mitchell

Alex Mitchell will only stay at Millwall next season if he has the chance of first-team involvement – with Gary Rowett explaining why anything less than regular football would be a backward step.

The defender had been part of Kevin Nugent’s U23 side before joining Bromley on loan in April.

And Mitchell is gearing up to feature for the Ravens in the National League play-offs this weekend.

Lions boss Rowett said: “He has done really well for a young centre-back, to go and play non-league and handle the physicality of it. But Alex is like a man already – he has already got the physicality of a man.

“He has got a great attitude, like so many of our young lads have. It is a bit like Tanto [Isaac Oloafe], if you handle one level well then there are always opportunities to see if you can handle it at the next level or come back and be in the first-team here.

“If a player does well then I never ever want to disrupt that. If you look at Danny McNamara he came back and played here.

“If both Alex and Tanto went back into the U23s it feels like a step back for them in terms of their development because they have tasted first-team football and playing on Saturday at three o’clock.

“It might be we get them back for one or two weeks of pre-season, depending on the players we have available.

“Ultimately you want to create momentum, keep it going and give them that league experience as well.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD