Millwall boss Rowett on development plan for exciting Irish attacker Aidomo Emakhu

Aidomo Emakhu has been signed as a long-term project by Millwall but manager Gary Rowett is not ruling out the teenager being involved at first-team level this season.

The 19-year-old Irishman will join on January 1 from Shamrock Rovers on a long-term contract.

Emakhu flew into England earlier this week and is already training with the Championship club.

The Eire U19 international had been linked with Wolves and Southampton, as well as Italian side Lecce.

Emakhu has scored in the Europa Conference League, Europa League and Champions League qualifying for the South Dublin club.

Lions boss Rowett told the South London Press: “First and foremost he is a signing that we have made, as a club, to clearly impact long term – because of his age – but he’s also had some good experiences over in Ireland. He has scored some goals, he’s performed well and played quite a lot of games.

“We have watched quite a lot of him and we think he will fit the way we want to play. We feel he will be a really, really good addition for our club.

“We don’t want to put too much pressure on him and have a big fanfare that he is going to do this and that, but alternatively we don’t want to close the door to any involvement.

“Clearly he is not signing to get us lots of goals and get us promotion this season. But, at the same time, he’ll be involved straightaway with the first-team group.

“He will train with us and we will have a development plan for him, like we do for any of the younger players, and then we’ll have to try and make sure he gets the relevant match minutes as well.

“That will probably be with the U21s to start with but, like I said, it is important he comes in with the first-team group, gets a chance to train and see what the level is like. We’ll take it from there – it will depend how quickly he can settle and how quickly he can find his level.”

Rowett handed Zak Lovelace, then 15, his debut at Coventry City in December 2021.

And right-back Danny McNamara has also emerged through the academy ranks to become a first-team regular.

“You have to look at the balance in everything,” said the Lions boss. “You can’t just go out and sign lots and lots of young players unless your remit is to become a selling or development club – but we don’t [want to be that].

“We want players who can grow and improve with the team – give us that real potential. We want players who are coming through our own system. We want to sign experienced players, as well, who can give us something in the short term.

“A team and squad is made up of many different parts. My own experience is that the very best teams have a nice blend of youth and experience.

“If we want to be competitive at the right end of the table we always have to find that balance as well.”