Millwall manager Gary Rowett on Mason Bennett debut and if the on-loan man could start on Wednesday 

BY ALEX GRACE

Gary Rowett praised new signing Mason Bennett after he made his first appearance for Millwall since his arrival on loan from Derby County in January.

Bennett was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute and was involved in a number of moves as the Lions tried to get back in the game at the DW Stadium.

“When Mason Bennett came on, I felt he gave us a little bit of intent attacking wise, before then I felt we played a little bit tepid in those forward areas,” said Rowett.

“I still think his fitness will be an issue for the whole game, we have to think he as hasn’t played much or any football at all in the last two or three months, today was his first taste of that.”

Millwall struggled to open up the game against a resilient Wigan outfit, who closed the gap to Huddersfield and Championship safety to just two points.

“You saw in glimpses his pace and power to open the game up, you also saw his rustiness in his last finish,” said Rowett. “What I was pleased about was when he came on and he was trying desperately to get us back in the game.

“That was the disappointment for me, because we had the opportunity from the start.

“We didn’t beat people one-v-one, we didn’t take defenders on, we didn’t really try and make things happen so there is an opportunity for him to start on Wednesday, whether we do or not will depend on if we think he’s fit enough to have that impact from the start.”