Alex Neil explains why he handed Zak Lovelace his second Millwall debut in Southampton win
Alex Neil explains why he handed Zak Lovelace his second Millwall debut in Southampton win.
ALEX Neil explained why he opted to bring Zak Lovelace off the bench against Southampton on Saturday, his first appearance since rejoining Millwall in January.
Lovelace, 19, underwent knee surgery shortly after returning to SE16 from Rangers.
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The forward returned to training in September and has featured for the under-21s as he builds up his match fitness.
Lovelace made his first-team match-day squad against the Saints and replaced Aidomo Emakhu in the 88th minute with the Lions hunting a late winner, which they found through Tristan Crama in the 97th minute.
“He’s still got a lot of work to do, Zak,” Neil told News@Den. “If most of the lads were available at the time, I probably wouldn’t have risked him.
“He hasn’t yet played 90 minutes for the Under-21s. If you haven’t played 90 minutes before, going directly into a first-team game is a huge step up. “His profile was what brought him into the pitch.
When we pulled out Femi [Azeez] and Aidomo [Emakhu], we liked those straight line, knock it out of the park, speedy, direct wingers, forwards, or whatever you want to call them. Zak has a similar kind profile as that.
To carry that threat for the squad, we required that type of profile on the pitch.”Neil was asked what Lovelace needed to do to get more involved with the first team. “He’s playing today,” Neil confirmed.
“He’s heading up to Wigan with the 21s. Jack Howland will have some time on his legs. We just have to keep ticking him over.
“Then, like any player, when he does get an opportunity to come on and impact the first team, he needs to show that he can contribute, and then he’ll get more minutes off the back of that.”
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