‘His opportunity will come’ – Millwall boss on Romain Esse’s lack of game time at Crystal Palace

Millwall head coach Alex Neil reckons that Romain Esse was always going to need time to settle into his new surroundings at Crystal Palace.

The attacker made a move to SE25 that could net the Lions up to £14.5million.

Esse, 19, scored just seconds after coming on for his Palace debut in a 2-1 loss to Brentford in the Premier League at Selhurst Park on January 26.

The Millwall academy product has been an unused substitute for the past four league matches.

Esse did come on for the final 28 minutes of the 2-0 win at Doncaster in the FA Cup which set up a fifth round meeting with the Lions on Saturday.

Neil watched the winger’s debut against the Bees.

Asked about there being an integration period for Esse at Palace, the Lions boss told the South London Press: “Moving into the club but, more importantly, moving to a different level. The pace and the tactical element of the Premier League will take a bit of adjustment for any young player.

“If you look at the likes of Olise and Eze, guys like that who went there as well, they take a little bit of time to bed in, then you see what they’re capable of.

“I don’t think Romain will be any different. He just needs to learn and listen to what he’s being told. I’m sure his opportunity will come.”

Neil was in the crowd to watch Palace’s 4-1 home win over Aston Villa on Tuesday night.

Prior to that the Eagles had only won two top-flight home matches on their own turf in the current campaign but are fourth in a table just based off away results.

Asked prior to the Villa fixture about that, Neil said: “That won’t have any relevance to us. They’re playing against Premier League teams. You just have to look at that league – no game is an easy game.

“What it does reflect is that they’re a very good transitional team. When you’re the home team, the onus is on you to come out and dominate to win the game.

“It will probably indicate to us what type of team they are, but I don’t think on the day against us it will have any relevance.”

Millwall have kept clean sheets in both of their FA Cup ties so far as they dispatched Dagenham & Redbridge and then Leeds United.

“The cup has been good to us,” said Neil. “It’s been good to give some of the other squad lads the opportunity to play.

“It gave me an opportunity to tinker with a couple of bits and tinker without the responsibility and importance of three points. The further stages you get to, the more importance is carries.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD