Did Millwall come close to loaning Romain Esse? Youngster having ‘one of best spells’ since head coach appointment

Romain Esse has had one of his most productive playing spells since Joe Edwards was appointed Millwall head coach.

That is the view of the Lions boss, who has brought the 18-year-old attacking midfielder on in the last two Championship matches.

Hull City were keen on a permanent deal for Esse in the January transfer window but the South London club retained the services of the England U18 international.

But Millwall were open to allowing their academy product to make a temporary loan switch if it aided his development.

Instead Esse has stayed and played the final 23 minutes – plus stoppage time – in Saturday’s defeat at Hull. He replaced Ryan Longman at the start of the second half in the previous fixture, a 1-1 draw against Preston at The Den.

Esse has played 432 minutes in 18 appearances this season. His only goal came in the 1-0 win on the opening day at Middlesbrough.

Asked if there was ever a real possibility that Esse could have moved before the recent transfer window deadline, Edwards told the South London Press: “I think there was a point earlier in the window when he wasn’t getting on the pitch that much that, in my head, I understood if there was a really beneficial loan for his development which benefits us as well – seeing a player like Rom gain game time and experience – benefits all of us.

“I had an open mind to a good loan but I was being very specific there, it would have to be a set type of circumstances. It wouldn’t just be letting him out the door anywhere to go and play football. There would have been some real clear conditions on what we wanted because of what we think of him.

“In recent weeks what I’ve seen from Rom on the training pitch has led to me giving him some more game time. When he has gone on he has shown more of what he is capable of than possibly weeks prior to that.

“Although there ended up being a bit of talk about him leaving, whether that be on a permanent or on loan at the end of the window, strangely enough it has coincided with one of the best spells he’s had in my time here.

“I’ve been pleased with him.”