‘He has been so good in pre-season’ – Experienced campaigner has praise for Millwall prospect Romain Esse

Joe Bryan reckons that Romain Esse has developed physically as the Millwall teenager gears up for the 2024-25 Championship campaign.

The England U19 international, 19, has played plenty of minutes in pre-season.

And the Lions are set to be depleted in the attacking areas with Zian Flemming out with a calf injury.

They are also a winger light with Ryan Longman back at Hull City after his loan spell in the previous campaign.

Millwall head coach Neil Harris has kept talking about the need to add to his offensive options with the Championship side only making two outfield signings so far.

Bryan put a great chance wide from a superb Esse cross in Saturday’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Southampton.

“I should probably score….I should score,” the Millwall left-back told the South London Press. “It’s an unbelievable ball.

“He (Esse) has been so good in pre-season – he has really matured.

“You can see he has filled out a little bit. You see his legs…he has got that strength now.

“Hopefully he is robust enough to deal with the rigours of the Championship. In pre-season you have seen, whether through lack of players or through the manager’s trust, he is slowly growing in the manager’s observations – which is exactly what you want in a young player.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD