SOME of Millwall’s promising young players will be involved in first-team pre-season training – but if they don’t make the step-up they will be sent out on loan.

The bulk of the Lions’ squad returned to Calmont Road on Wednesday (June 28) for medical and fitness testing.

Millwall’s under-21s won the Professional Development League national title last season when they defeated Sheffield United 2-1 at The Den.

Senior manager Gary Rowett was at that game and praised the work of under-21 boss Kevin Nugent and his assistant Paul Robinson.

A number of the squad are at the stage of their careers when the club believe they need to play regular senior football. Three of them have already made their debuts in Rowett’s side: Romain Esse, Nana Boateng and Aidomo Emakhu.

The captain, centre-back Chin Okoli, played three games on a short-term loan at National League Torquay United last season.

Abdul Abdulmalik, who was the top-scorer last season with sixteen goals, has also been highly rated for some time.

Rowett was asked about loan plans, specifically in relation to the latter two.

“Those two you’ve mentioned have done really well and will probably be with the squad in pre-season. Then we’ll see from there,” Rowett told NewsAtDen.

“What you hope is that one or two of those players can come into our squad and do really well in pre-season and take their opportunity.

“If they don’t, I think you’re right, they need that next step. Obviously Chin’s had a little taste of that when he went on loan to Torquay.

“We’re always looking for that next step for them because they need game-time. It’s okay being involved with us and the feeling of that but there’s also nothing like playing week-in, week-out in men’s competitive football.

“That’s something we’ll assess with each individual.”

Rowett confirmed that there has been interest in some of the talented youngsters from other clubs.

“We’re always getting enquiries. People are seeing what good work Nuge and Robbo and their group of staff are doing at that age group,” Rowett said.

“That’s what we want. Having had the likes of Danny [McNamara] and Billy [Mitchell] come through, Tyler [Burey], Romain, Alex Mitchell out on loan, people are looking at our under-21s. Of course they had a brilliant season.

“You want to see those players in your first team. That’s exactly the scenario we were hoping for two or three years ago and we want to keep pushing down that direction.”