NEIL Harris said he didn’t know if Aidomo Emakhu would still be at Millwall after Friday’s transfer deadline – as he urged the attacker to “focus on his football” amid “a lot of noise” around him.
Emakhu started against Leyton Orient in the second round of the EFL Cup but was taken off in the 64th minute as the hosts slumped to a 1-0 defeat.
Emakhu, who joined from Shamrock Rovers in January 2023 and has made 27 appearances for the club, though only eight of them starts, has been linked with a loan move away from The Den.
Harris was asked about Emakhu’s immediate future after the game.
“I don’t know,” Harris said. “A lot of fans wanted to see him in the team. I gave him an opportunity tonight to play. He’s a work-in-progress. He’s a very young man. He has come from the League of Ireland not long ago and broke into the Championship last year. He hasn’t come through the ranks of League Two and League One.
“As always with young players it is, what is best? Is it best to learn and develop on our terms or do you loan players out to get minutes and learn on other people’s time? They are the tough decisions the football club has to make at times.
“We’ll make the best decision for Aidomo before Friday’s deadline. I’ve really enjoyed working with him pre-season and there is a lot of work goes on behind the scenes with our young players, a lot of work. That’s not just on the training pitch but in the classroom with video presentations and opportunities for minutes, when they arise.
“Aidomo has been outstanding in pre-season when he’s come off the bench. Not as effective from the start. That is where we need to get him to, so that he is effective from the first minute rather than just the last 30.
“There will be a thought process for Aidomo. There is a lot of noise around Aidomo. He needs to just focus on his football and development here.
“We’ll make the best decisions for Aidomo.”
