Millwall boss Gary Rowett gives verdict as young midfielder Billy Mitchell signs new contract

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Millwall have confirmed that Billy Mitchell has signed a new contract.

The 18-year-old midfielder’s old terms were due to run out in June but there was never a danger of the Championship side allowing the academy product to leave.

“He’s deserved a new deal,” Lions manager Gary Rowett told the South London Press. “He’s been really, really good in training since he had the opportunity in the FA Cup games.

“For me he was just feeling his way into men’s football in the match against Newport County. And then in the Sheffield United game we saw the confidence that first appearance brought. He was really, really good against Sheffield United in a tough game.

“He has come on late on in one or two other games to help us out.

“I think he could be a really big player for us next season. I’d really like to give an opportunity this season but we’ve got so many midfield players. Depending on the state of things, he could feature in some games towards the end.

“He has a big future. We’ve got a really good player on our hands and I’m quite excited to see how he develops..

“I’ve spoken before about a loan for him. We would’ve done that to a League One or top end League Two club [at the end of the January window], it would have been beneficial to him. It’s a tough balance at the business end of a season – sometimes you need those games with a little less pressure to give young players an opportunity to see how they do.

“We were very specific about any loan. When you have got a player who has done so well you don’t just send them anywhere and they end up getting four or five games rather than 15.”