Charlie Cresswell says his experience of a season loan at Millwall will stand him in good stead as he heads back to Elland Road looking to earn a place in the Leeds team for the 2023/24 campaign. The 20-year-old enjoyed his first real taste of competitive football at the Den and just missed out on a place in the play-offs.
Gary Rowett's men had been in the top-six picture for much of the season but fell away at the death, following an injury to Cresswell. They had the play-offs in their grasp as they led Blackburn 3-1 at half-time in the final game of the season, but a second-half collapse saw them lose 4-3 and miss out by a point.
It was an experience Cresswell says he will take with him and his 28 appearances in the second tier will certainly help in his bid to force his way into the Leeds United reckoning. Knowing how difficult and 'unpredictable' the division is, Cresswell wished his former club well, admitting he 'loved every minute' of his time at the Den.
"The Championship looks tough this year,” he told LondonNews. "I’m sure not many teams will want to go to Millwall, and if they keep that attitude and keep performing the way they did last season, I’m sure they can always go one ahead.
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“But the Championship is so unpredictable — you don’t know what’s going to happen. I wish them all the best, and who knows?
“It was a shame we couldn’t make the play-offs because we were in there all season, but it’s something that I can take into my future and my experience going forward.
“I loved every minute of my time at Millwall. The fans, players and staff really made my time there.
"I wouldn’t change a second of it. There were ups and downs, but I was glad to come to the end of the season on such a high, individually."
He is now hoping that experience will serve him well next season. Leeds will find out their Championship fixtures later this week and he has a real chance to impress after being named in Lee Carsley’s England U21 squad for this summer’s Euro 2023 finals in Georgia and Romania.
With new ownership in place and a new manager to be appointed, there is a chance for Cresswell to stake his claim for a place in the team. A good showing for England under-21s can certainly help and act as an audition ahead of what is to be an important summer for all concerned as the Whites look to bounce back from relegation.
