Millwall boss admits young striker is staking strong claim for starting spot after early Championship returns

Aidomo Emakhu has done his starting prospects at Millwall no harm by his impressive start to the Championship season.

The Irish attacker’s surging run created Romain Esse’s winner at Middlesbrough on the opening day.

And Emakhu, signed from Shamrock Rovers last January, produced an excellent finish of his own in Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Norwich City.

There has been loan interest in the 19-year-old. But his performances for the South London club could mean he stays as part of Gary Rowett’s squad.

The Millwall boss told the South London Press: “From the start of pre-season, he has impressed. Last year it was all new for him and he struggled physically to stay fit and stay with the tempo – that happens sometimes with a player who comes from a different league and different level.

“What he’s done this season is looked like he’s done a lot of work in the summer – that he knows what he needs. He looks to have taken that next step physically and he’s come back wanting to get in the team. It’s been a brilliant attitude from him.

“He probably felt that a League Two loan might be something that would’ve given him extra minutes and now he’s found himself in and around the first-team – setting up goals and scoring a goal.

“It’s been a brilliant start to the season for him. He’s very close to starting. He’s certainly in my thoughts when it comes to picking the first 11. He’s got to keep doing that. He will get lots of minutes this season, if he continues like he did at the weekend. He has come on in games and set a goal up and scored a goal. Statistically at the moment he’s had a big impact.

“Of course there is a bit of that which thinks ‘can he do that from the start?’. He’s got to keep doing that. I don’t think at the moment we have to look to all of the young players to start getting us the results, but I also think they haven’t done themselves any harm with their performances.”