‘Until something else is suggested’ – Millwall boss asked about youngsters involved in pre-season

Millwall boss Gary Rowett says the youngsters who have been involved in pre-season training ahead of the 2023-24 Championship campaign will remain with the squad unless a “great opportunity” comes up for one of them.

Chinwike Okoli, Niino Adom-Malaki, Alex Mitchell and Aidomo Emakhu have all been involved with Rowett’s first-team squad, alongside Romain Esse, who was involved in the second half of last season.

Emakhu and Adom-Malaki scored in the 6-1 win over Bromley at Calmont Road earlier in the week.

Rowett told the South London Press: “There have been four main players who have been with the team for the last week and beyond.

“You’re talking about Chin [Okoli], Niino [Adom-Malaki], Alex Mitchell, Aidomo [Emakhu] and Rom [Esse].

“Take Rom aside for a second, if you look at the other four, they have all done really well last season and all shown a real potential for us to involve them in what we’re doing.

“That will remain the case until something changes that. If we go and sign three strikers, which we’re not going to do, but if we did, then all of a sudden, we would have to look at Aidomo and say: ‘Is he going to get the opportunity to develop and would it be better if he goes out and plays 20 or 40 games?’

“That conversation is always ongoing. But at the same time, if any of those players smash pre-season and really show us a level that we think is close to the first team, then we will keep them with us – they will be a part of the first team squad and challenge for a place like everyone else.

“We have other good young players, but due to the balance of the team we have got and the pre-season games, they’re the players who have been chosen to be with us permanently until something else is suggested. 

“If a great opportunity comes up on loan for one of those players, we have to sit there and say: ‘Ok, is that better for them than making five appearances and being on the bench 30 times?’

“All those questions are always being asked. The primary aim is to develop our players as well as we possibly can so they can impact our first team. Then make sure the first team squad is as strong as it needs to be – positionally and players and different types of players.

“At the moment, they have all done well enough to be a part of what we’re doing.”