ADAM Barrett has insisted that Romain Esse will be a part of his thinking while he is in caretaker charge of Millwall.
The 43-year-old coach has been on the touchline for one game so far, Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Preston North End, where Esse was an unused substitute.
Another rising star in Aidomo Emakhu got his first start and impressed with a dynamic and energetic performance at Deepdale.
And Barrett says there will be more to come for young players getting a chance at Millwall during his caretaker stint.
He told NewsAtDen: “Romain’s an exceptional talent as we all know. We’ve seen glimpses of him and he’s very highly thought of by the staff here and it’s finding the right times to progress these players in games as well.
“But I would love to get Romain more minutes and as long as I’m sat in this seat, he’s going to have a big part to play. There’s excitement around these [young] players but we also have use them in the right moments. Aidomo was fantastic the other day but we have to keep the feet on the ground and keep progressing them, and we will do.
“Romain’s highly thought of. He’s going to play games, he’s going to get minutes but we’ve also got to look after him and not put too much pressure on the young lads’ shoulders as well. But he’s an exceptional talent and he’s definitely one where, when we can, there will be games that he can effect and games that can suit him. So we’ll be looking to introduce him as much as we can.”
Esse has started just one of Millwall’s 12 league games this season but also started the 4-0 Carabao Cup loss to Reading in August.
While he has been short on starts, he has regularly come off the bench throughout the season.
His most effective sub appearance came on the opening day of the Championship campaign when he struck a fabulous winner to help the Lions to a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough.