Millwall boss on Den return for Cardiff City’s Mahlon Romeo

Millwall boss Gary Rowett has discussed Mahlon Romeo’s impending return to The Den.

The 26-year-old played 221 matches for the Lions before he signed for Portsmouth in the summer.

Romeo spent the previous season on loan at Portsmouth.

The full-back’s last appearance at Millwall’s home ground was the 2-1 defeat to Fulham in August 2021.

“Mahlon has played a lot of games for the club over a period of time and he was a popular figure with other players and staff,” Rowett told the South London Press. “I’m sure he’ll say a few hellos and be welcomed back by a few players. He was a good character, I enjoyed working with him.

“It’s like when any player comes back to their former club, I’m sure his motivation is to try and get wins for Cardiff and our motivation is to try and win as well.”

Another ex-Lion back on his old stomping ground is Steve Morison, the Cardiff City manager.

“They have shifted system a little bit this season, they have played more of a 4-3-3 and been really energetic,” said Rowett. “They have recruited a lot of different players and their team will have a very different look to it [compared to last season’s game].

“But I’ve been quite impressed in them, in the games that I’ve seen.

“They are quite a high-pressing team but you don’t know, any team now could come to The Den and say: ‘We’re just going to sit in and see if they can break us down’. I’m sure Steve will get a good welcome back. It’s like anything for us, it doesn’t really matter who it is – it’s about us putting the performances in that we’ve done so often at home.

“Because our away form has not been so great, to then lose the last home game makes it feel a lot worse. But we’re positive heading into the weekend and seeing if we can go and get a result.”