Is it Vogey time?? Millwall boss Gary Rowett on whether German striker is ready for a Den start

Millwall manager Gary Rowett is weighing up the right time to unleash Andreas Voglsammer from the start of a match.

The German, 30, has hit the bar in his first two highly promising substitute appearances for the Lions since his transfer from Union Berlin earlier this month.

And plenty of the club’s fans have already taken a shine to Voglsammer, who is likely to gain his first Den minutes tomorrow when Reading head to SE16.

Last season’s top-scorer Benik Afobe is yet to get off the mark in five appearances this season.

Asked when Voglsammer could be ready for the starting line up, Rowett told the South London Press: “I think Vogey is very close. When he first came in he said he hadn’t started many games and felt he needed to get a little bit of time to get that power back to be able to impact games for 90 minutes.

“That’s always the challenge when you haven’t started many games in the previous 12 months. He is certainly in a much better position to effect games now.

“He will start very soon. Whether that is this weekend, the game in midweek or the game after – we have to assess that.

“It is the same with Zian [Flemming]. He’s missed a little period after pre-season and again it’s assessing whether a player can have more effect in 30 minutes than they can in the first 60 minutes, because realistically they are not going to get through the 90 at the moment .

“It is a question of how we can bring them along nicely so that when they are ready to start they are ready to stay in the team, not just come in for that match and then come back out again.

“It is a physically demanding league but Vogey has come from fast-paced football and slotted in really, really well.

“He is a really good finisher in training. He embraces the aggression of the game and that’s why he has always wanted to play in England and also why I’ve kept such a close eye on him. He looks tailor-made for this level.

“When a player does well, everyone wants them to start. But I’ve got to think about 46 games and making sure they are ready for that load.

“He’s been very, very unlucky not to be on the scoresheet already.”

Millwall will hold a minute’s applause before tomorrow’s match as a mark of respect to former scout Bob Pearson, 83, who passed away at the start of last week.