ZAK Lovelace admitted to being nervous before he made his comeback from injury in Millwall under-21s’ 4-0 win over Colchester United at Calmont Road on Wednesday.
Lovelace, 19, has yet to make a senior appearance since re-joining the Lions from Glasgow Rangers last February. That deal was confirmed three days after his last senior action, as an 80th-minute substitute in Rangers’ 2-1 win over Union St Gilloise in the Europa League.
Lovelace became Millwall’s second-youngest ever player when he made his debut as a sixteen-year-old in a 2-1 win against Derby County in February 2022.
Jack Howland and Ajay Matthews both scored twice as Kevin Nugent’s Lions claimed their second win of the 2025-26 Professional Development League season.
“I’m very happy, of course, I’ve been out for a long time,” Lovelace told Millwall’s media. “It’s good to get some minutes into my legs and I hope I can get some more.
“I already knew I was going to play 30 minutes and when he [Nugent] told me to ready up I was a bit nervous, a bit scared, but when I started to get going I felt all right.
“Everyone’s been very supportive. They take time with me, there was a couple of setbacks but I’ve come out stronger and I’m proud of how they’ve got me to where I am now.”
Millwall: Evans; Beaumont, Drake, Mansor, Grant (Forbes 61′), Freedman, Howland, Bangura-Williams (Whitby 61′), Matthews (Tsugita Vieira 86′), F. Baker, Kendall (Lovelace 61′).
Sub not used: Lindner.
Scorers: Howland 2′ 51′, Matthews 25′ 54′
