‘Attach too much pressure’ – Millwall boss makes Zak Lovelace admission after Rangers exit

Alex Neil says that it will be a gradual bedding in process back at Millwall for the returning Zak Lovelace.

Lovelace, 19, returned to The Den on deadline day after two-and-a-half-years at Glasgow Rangers.

The forward became Millwall’s second youngest-ever debutant when he came on against Coventry City in December 2021, aged 15 years and 340 days.

He turned down a professional deal to move cross-border.

But Lovelace, after eight senior appearances at Ibrox, is now back in South London and is a part of Alex Neil’s squad.

Neil said: “For all the younger lads, and this is one of the reasons why I mention transfer fees.

“Football, in general, associates expectation with how much someone costs.

“The last thing I want to do for Zak, Benny [Benicio Baker-Boaitey] or young Ajay Matthews is attach too much pressure to our recruitment.

“These are boys, who I believe over the course of time, will be very good for Millwall.

“They might not start the next game, the game after or the game after that – they have to work their way up the ladder.

“But, if they show they’re capable like Ra’ees has done, then they will get opportunities and chances.

“What I don’t want to do it build up too much expectation around their arrival and what we’re going to demand from them.”