MILLWALL manager Gary Rowett revealed Billy Mitchell’s form in training since the return of football has “forced” him to find a role for the midfielder in games.
Mitchell came on for Mahlon Romeo in the 76th minute of the 1-0 win at Charlton on Friday night and slotted into a right wing-back role.
In the 81st minute Mitchell was high up the pitch on the right stretching the Charlton defence as the Lions worked the ball out to Connor Mahoney on the left. Mahoney cut inside and when goalkeeper Dillon Phillips spilled the shot Jake Cooper fired home the winner.
“You know what, it’s almost trying to find an outlet for his energy because he’s been so energetic,” Rowett said of Mitchell. “He’s probably one of the best trainers since we’ve come back, and he’s almost forced me to play him somewhere on the pitch.
“I’ve looked at him in that right wing-back role, he’s shown incredible desire to get up and down the pitch. Tactically he’s not overly familiar with some of the aspects of it, but late on in the game Mahlon’s had a groin issue and in the last 10, 15 minutes he stiffened up and struggled to get forward.
“If we lose it having Billy at right wing-back, then so be it. But he’s deserved his chance, he’s a player that knows all about these types of games, what it means, the likes of him and Thommo [Ben Thompson].
“I thought he did really well when he came on and was a little bit part of the goal giving us that width on the right-hand side.”
Image: Millwall FC