Millwall boss Gary Rowett believes that Leeds United loanee Charlie Cresswell will benefit from his recent spell out of the Lions' squad. Cresswell was left out of the squad for four straight games, as Millwall collected 10 points from a possible 12.
His lack of playing time fuelled talk of a potential recall to Leeds in January but the England U21 international was restored to the bench for the visit of West Brom to The Den last weekend.
Cresswell replaced Shaun Hutchinson at the break after the Millwall captain was forced off with a hamstring injury. Millwall registered a fourth win on the bounce to climb into the Championship play-offs courtesy of Tyler Burey's 90th-minute winner against the Baggies.
Hutchinson is expected to be out until after the World Cup break, although Murray Wallace is set to return soon from a groin injury. Rowett has claimed that Cresswell will return to Leeds as a more 'well-rounded' player and believes his recent difficulties will only make him stronger as a character.
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“Cressy would have 100 percent been frustrated at being left out of the squad, but as a manager, you have to make unpopular decisions at times," Gary Rowett revealed via London News Online.
“I spoke to him. I said: ‘You’re not going to be a Millwall player, so this season for me is about learning all the different things'. He would have learnt about himself – how to cope with situations and a little bit about Championship football. He’ll come back in and bounce back.
“He has shown character and resilience, and he will benefit from it in the long term – that’s my personal opinion. No career of a young player is just a straight line right to the top. There are lots of loanees in our division who expect to come in and absolutely smash the Championship, but it doesn’t work like that – it’s a brutal league.
“I think that Leeds will be pleased with the fact that the loan has had different facets to it. At some point, he will go back to Leeds a much more well-rounded player.
“I’m sure he will get another opportunity. I have been really pleased with how Cressy has dealt with it as a young player."
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