Aidomo Emakhu determined to kick on at Millwall and reveals extra summer graft to be in tip-top shape

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Aidomo Emakhu set himself ambitious goals when he first signed for Millwall, and the fact he didn’t manage to achieve them has only made him graft harder.

The Lions bought the 19-year-old striker from Shamrock Rovers in the January transfer window.

And while Emakhu was viewed by the Lions as a development project, the Republic of Ireland U21 international was intent on being an almost instant hit.

So back-to-back injuries, the latter a hamstring in March which ruled him out of the Championship run-in, was difficult to accept.

But the response from Emakhu, who scored Millwall’s second goal in their friendly win at Gillingham on Saturday, was to come back stronger.

“The start I had at Millwall wasn’t quite what I’d hoped for,” he told the South London Press. “I’d come over here to play in the Millwall team.

“When you leave home to come and play football, you are hoping for an opportunity. I wanted to play games in the second half of the season. You always have to think big and set standards for yourselves.

“There was a change of intensity and load to what it was back in Ireland. You’re coming to one of the best leagues in the world. My body wasn’t quite ready at the time.

“The work I’ve done with the fitness coaches and staff means I’m right up there now.”

Emakhu injured his groin in training just before the FA Cup tie against Sheffield United in January.

Then came a hamstring grade two tear in the last minute of an U21 match against Colchester.

“It was a kick in the teeth because I’d just come back from injury and I pulled out again with another one,” said Emakhu.

“You’re thinking about what people will think. Is he ready? Is it too much for him? I know myself I’m well able, so I blocked out the outside noise, listened to the coaches about what I needed to do so that this season it didn’t happen again.”

Emakhu featured for Millwall’s U21s in their Development League National final win over the Blades at The Den in May.

Over the summer he did extra fitness work with Kildare-based 121Training along with friend Sinclair Armstrong, a striker on the books of QPR.

“They’ve got so many people on board and are good with other brands,” said Emakhu, who has used their services since he was 15.

“They’ve reached a standard where they provide for top athletes, who have come home to Ireland for a couple of weeks and want to work on their game.

“After the U21 final I had a few days off and then started to analyse what went well and what went wrong last season. What could have gone better – areas of my game that needed improving.

“I went straight back into training. I know the demands for pre-season and the season ahead is going to be very demanding.

“My mindset over the off season is just to get myself ready.

“I knew I had the chance of the [Republic of Ireland] U21 camp as well. We said that was a goal for me, because that was after the second injury. The transition from camp to pre-season, I didn’t mind it at all. It was what I needed after I missed a large part of last season due to two injuries.”

Emakhu had a trial with Chelsea at the age of 11 before also trying out with Stoke City and Birmingham a few years later.

Former Chelsea, Fulham and Blackburn winger Damien Duff released him at U15 level at Shamrock.

A previous interview quotes Emakhu, an Arsenal fan, as saying up until that point he expected “to be the next big thing”.

“Everyone has that moment in their career which is a turning point,” he said. “They take a step back and say: “This is not for me’. Or you strive and get through those barriers.

“It’s important those kind of things happen, because you learn so much about yourself and your game. It made me want to work harder and prove people wrong.”

Emakhu had spells at Crumlin United and Shelbourne before re-signing for Shamrock. He balanced football with gaining his leaving certificate, which students in Ireland take between the age of 16 and 19.

“I’ve always said I’m big into business – so it would be that or real estate if I didn’t play football,” he said. “It was important I finished my education before I moved to England.

“I’ve got friends who took the opposite route, they left very young and they didn’t make very good careers for themselves. I know people who took my route and they are still making a good career.

“I wanted to have that in my back pocket.

“Playing in England was always a dream of mine. The best football is played over here. I’m grateful for Millwall taking me in.

“I’m enjoying every moment. I want to learn as much as I can and see where it takes me. Hopefully that will be at the highest level one day.”

Emakhu scored in qualifiers in all three of the main European competitions – Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League – for Shamrock. His first European goal, against Teuta Durres, in August 2021 is his career highlight – with the advice of Robbie Keane paying off.

The ex-Tottenham and Leeds United striker coached Emakhu at Shamrock.

“He told me get myself in the box, almost smell where the ball is going to land, and be ready to finish,” said the Lions youngster. “I remember there were times he’d keep on at me –  because I wasn’t doing it enough.

“I did it on my European debut.

“I made sure I listened to everything Robbie said – he’s played at the highest level and scored some really important goals. He is the highest goalscorer for Ireland.”

Pre-season is a chance for younger players to impress management and try to upgrade their squad status.

There is loan interest in Emakhu from clubs lower down the English league pyramid.

“My focus right now is to keep playing for Millwall, keep doing well in pre-season and show them what I can do,” he said. “It can only work in my favour both ways – a club can come in for me or I’ll be challenging for a spot in the team.

“Whatever happens, I’m ready for whatever comes.

“I’m excited for my first full season in England.”