Gary Rowett on releasing new signing into midfield role + whether he takes extra pleasure from beating Derby County

BY ALEX GRACE

Gary Rowett has expressed his satisfaction at the way George Evans has settled into life at Millwall.

The 26-year-old signed for the Lions in the January transfer window from Derby County. He headed back to his former club on Saturday and helped Millwall record a 1-0 vuctory.

The Lions have won five of their nine games since Evans’ debut against Sheffield Wednesday and lost just twice – against Barnsley and Blackburn. He also chalked up his first goal for the club with a 95th-minute equaliser at Luton.

“He’s settled in brilliantly for us,” said Lions boss Rowett. “He’s played as part of a back three most of the time. I just wanted to see if I could release him into midfield. It’s always difficult to try and play both roles once the games are in front of you and you’ve got a bit more time to react as a midfielder when there’s things going on 360 degrees around you.

“Saturday wasn’t his best game he’s had for us but he’s fabulous for what we paid. For someone who’s a good age who I think didn’t play as many games as he would have liked at Derby. For us he can settle into a position and be a big player, I think we can always give that opportunity to a player. A bit like Mason, he didn’t play much here, but gets a chance to almost be a main player for us.”

Rowett has raided his old club for Evans, Bennett and Scott Malone, the latter was not eligible to feature at the weekend as part of the terms of his loan.

“Sometimes you have to move on to get your career going in the right direction,” said Rowett. “George has been excellent and Malone’s been probably our most attacking player from left wing-back. We’ve begged a few, borrowed a few and stolen a few from Derby and we are quite pleased with the ones we’ve got. We are focussed now on winning as many games as we can and trying to get into the top 10.”

Rowett led Derby to the Championship play-offs in 2017-18 but lost out to eventual winners Fulham in the semi-finals. He then left the club to take over at Stoke. He was asked if beating Derby was any greater significance to him.

“No not really, I’ve been back here four times, I’ve won three times and drawn once.

“I’m someone who lives in the area. I think a lot about the club, it’a fabulous club. I hope that they do enough to not get dragged down into those bottom areas. No, it doesn’t make me feel any better to win, I want to win every game we play, there’s a few players in there that maybe felt they had a point to prove today – like George Evans and Mason Bennett.

“But you’re just trying to win games of football. I’d like to win lots of games. I’d like to see Derby doing equally well at the right end of the table which is the top end that’s where they should be challenging for.”