‘He’s going to get kicked a lot’ – Millwall attacker Watmore reveals advice for Esse

Millwall attacker Duncan Watmore says he told youngster Romain Esse to take being kicked by defenders as a “positive”.

The 18-year-old played the full 90 minutes in Tuesday’s 3-0 pre-season win over Sutton United, playing a key role in two of the goals at Gander Green Lane.

Summer signing Kevin Nisbet scored all three.

Esse set up the Scottish forward for his first and won the spot kick for Nisebet’s second, drawing a foul inside the penalty area after bursting past a Sutton defender.

“I like to dribble with the ball as well, and I have been kicked a lot in my career,” said attacker Watmore after the game.

“I said: ‘Try and take it as a positive that they’re kicking you, because they’re not getting the ball.’

“He’s going to get kicked a lot – he already does in training. He’s getting used to it. He’s so good on his feet that he’s hard to get near.

“He’s a brilliant player.

“You never want to over-hype young lads because you don’t want to put too much expectation on them – you just want them to be themselves and play their game.

“But all I will say is that he has got a hell of a lot of talent and if he keeps doing what he’s doing, then he’s just going to rise and rise.

“That’s what we want for him. He’s a really good lad – he takes on advice really well. 

“You just have to let him do his thing. Let him shine because he has the ability to do things.”