Millwall head coach gives detailed explanation on game time afforded to Aidomo Emakhu and Romain Esse

Millwall head coach Joe Edwards has talked about the physical demands of the Championship being one factor in the game time afforded Aidomo Emakhu and Romain Esse.

Republic of Ireland U21 international Emakhu was set to sign a new long-term contract with the Lions when our paper went to press yesterday.

The former Shamrock Rovers attacker, who joined Millwall in the last January transfer window, scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Cardiff U21s on Monday.

England U19 international Esse, 18, also netted against the Bluebirds. He did not make the matchday squad for last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Huddersfield.

Edwards was in attendance for the Cardiff game at Calmont Road.

He said: “That’s all those boys can do when they are disappointed with their lack of involvement in the first team and I ask them to go and get some minutes – go and produce the goods. It was a good exercise.

“Romain and Aidomo are two of the young exciting talents we are looking to bring into the team over time.

“They are both creative attacking players and, like a lot of those type of players, the areas of the game to improve are that off-the-ball side, where there is a lot of responsibility to make sure you’re tracking runners and doing the ugly stuff.

“The Championship is probably the hardest league in the world for that. The speed of thought in the Premier League and the speed of passing is faster.

“I’m fairly qualified to have an opinion of this because I’ve worked at both levels now.

“But the Championship is physically the most demanding league in the world, especially coupled with the amount of games.

“The games are incredibly physical and, at times, they are very messy, so there is a lot of ugliness required in your game.

“When you’re developing academy players the right way – which they do really well at Millwall – it’s not easy to give them those skills, to the level required, without exposing them to it. But then we are in a position where we need to know the players out on the pitch are ready to really deliver on all of that.

“The most comfortable period I’ve had since we’ve been here is that second half against Sheffield Wednesday (a 4-0 win in Edward’s first match in charge). When I felt it was a decent environment for Romain to go on and show the best of himself, it was the first sub I’ve made.

“Since then all our games have really felt like you’re up against it for every minute. Rom has got to keep working, keep proving himself and keep showing – but he’s definitely showing the right attitude. We’re helping as much as we can, going through clips and telling him what he needs to keep improving.

“At the same time there are elements out of Rom’s control.”

Esse’s lack of minutes – just 31 since the end of October – has left to speculation among some Millwall supporters that his absence could be due to moving on in January.

But those conspiracy theories have been shot down by Edwards, who had been England U20 head coach before succeeding Gary Rowett at The Den in November.

“I’ve not been involved in one conversation with anyone at the club about Romain being sold in January,” said Edwards.

“After the Sheffield Wednesday win there was a break for international matches and then a tough run of results and fixtures – he’s fallen into that spell where he’s started to lack match fitness.

“The whole purpose of him being the one to miss out at the weekend is because I knew there was a game on Monday for him to play in.

“Now he has got 80 minutes under his belt and he’s ready for selection again.”

Emakhu has made 16 appearances in all competitions for the Lions this season, all but three of those as a substitute.

The Dubliner has played 434 minutes – 96 minutes more than Esse.

Emakhu is a different type of player to his fellow prospect with more explosive and dynamic bursts.

Edwards agrees when asked if that is a reason why he has featured more regularly.

“He is a young player who has got a lot of quality already,” said the Lions boss. “He has a lot to learn and work on, like any player his age, but he has got some strong physical qualities, which has definitely helped him in this moment.”