MILLWALL boss Gary Rowett has promised to give youth at chance to flourish over the final eight games of the 2019-20 season.
The Lions are still in the hunt for a top-six place but if they are out of the running with games left then Rowett will take the opportunity to test some of the club’s youngsters.
Billy Mitchell, 19, who has already played senior competitive football, was joined on the bench against Derby last weekend by 18-year-old defender Hayden Muller.
The coaching staff also think highly of Abdul Abdulmalik. He is a 17-year-old attacker who has been called up to the England underage set-up.
Millwall reached the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup this season before losing 1-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Muller could even get his chance this weekend at Barnsley, with injury doubts over Alex Pearce and Shaun Hutchinson, though Rowett is wary of giving him a full debut before he’s ready.
“It would be difficult to chuck him in at the moment as one of two centre-backs in a back four,” Rowett said. “I think he’s going to be a very, very good player.
“It would be easier with a young lad like that to put him into a back three or to play him right-back in a back four.
“He’s a very good young player. What you might find for these remaining eight games is that some young players are going to get an opportunity where they wouldn’t normally do so.
“While there are opportunities it’s a chance for somebody to show that they are ready. Sometimes with young players you don’t know.
“We’ve had quite a few of the young players training with us and they’ve all done really well and showed not only will they have a big part to play next season, but this season they might have to do it earlier than normal.”
Meanwhile, Mason Bennett returns to the squad after not having permission to play against his parent club Derby.
Millwall have three games next week with Rowett likely to rotate his starting sides.
Rowett said: “Mason’s back and he’s a very good option to have starting. This weekend you’ve got to start thinking not only about Saturday’s team but Tuesday’s team and the following Saturday’s team. That’s really important.
“We’re going to have to utilise the squad and someone like Mason being back available is a big plus for us.”
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