Aidomo Emakhu would be ‘buzzing’ if handed first Millwall start against Swansea City

Aidomo Emakhu would relish the chance to make a first start for Millwall – adding any nerves about the milestone would quickly evaporate.

The young Irish attacker has been in all eight of the club’s matchday squads in the Championship and been subbed on in six of them.

Emakhu assisted Romain Esse for the academy product’s winning goal on the opening day of the season at Middlesbrough and opened his own account in the 3-1 reverse at Norwich.

Lions manager Gary Rowett will be forced to make changes to his frontline with Tom Bradshaw (hamstring) definitely set to miss tomorrow’s visit of Swansea while Kevin Nisbet (ankle) remains a doubt.

“The nerves would be there because it is natural for any footballer,” said Emakhu, who signed from Shamrock Rovers in January. “Plus I can’t remember the last time I started a professional game.

“But if the opportunity came to start this weekend then I’d be buzzing and I’m ready.

“Once you get into the game and get a few touches of the ball then you kind of forget you were even nervous in the first place.

“Starting a game for Millwall, and at home, is something everyone wants to do.

“All I can do is keep doing what I have been doing and keep training like I have been training – performing well, when given the opportunity.

“It is no different this weekend or the games ahead of us in the next couple of weeks. It’s nothing new, in terms of my objectives. I want to help the team to win a game and try to score some goals – that’s my mentality going into every game, whether I start or don’t start.

“On a personal level, the beginning of the season has gone how I wanted it to go – a goal, an assist and some good performances in there as well. Most importantly, the gaffer has trusted me to go on and do a job – whether that is to try and help us get a goal or see a match out.

“I’m grateful to him for believing in me. It didn’t go to plan last season, with some injuries, so what is happening now is what I wanted to happen at the start.

“There is stuff from Bradders and Nizzy’s games that I try and take stuff from. The way Zian Flemming finishes – he’s not even shooting, he’s almost passing it into the goal. It’s something I think I could learn from when I get in those positions, to be a bit more relaxed and composed.”

But Emakhu’s first Millwall goal was a cool and collected finish, controlling Bradshaw’s header before striding into the Norwich box and producing a low finish into the bottom corner.

But the fact that his side were 3-0 down at the time ensured his face did not even threaten a smile, let alone a celebration.

“It was a very proud moment for me and something I’ll remember for a very long time,” said Emakhu. “The circumstances meant I wasn’t able to enjoy it as much as I wanted to.

“I got more satisfaction from the Middlesbrough goal because we got the three points and I was involved in it.”