Gary Rowett hails Charlie Cresswell after dream debut

Millwall manager Gary Rowett was delighted with how Charlie Cresswell seized his opportunity after the centre-back’s two goals on his debut helped his new side to a comfortable victory over Stoke.

Cresswell has family connections with the Potters, as his father Richard was part of the squad promoted to the Premier League in 2008, but there was no room for sentiment for the Leeds loanee.

The 19-year-old may not even have played had the more experienced Shaun Hutchinson not picked up a groin injury in the build-up to the game.

His promotion reaped rewards, though, as Cresswell made the most of the Lions’ threat from corners against a Stoke side who offered all too little in response.

Rowett said: “I just said to him, ‘it doesn’t get any better than that, does it’?

“I thought as a young player making his Millwall debut, he showed us what he is all about.

“I spoke to him on Tuesday – he’s worked incredibly hard and has been excellent in pre-season – and I just said ‘look, I’m really impressed with you, but you might have to be a bit patient with the centre-halves we’ve got’.

“Hutchy pulled out in training towards the end of the week, but it made team selection easy and he went straight in the team.

“It wasn’t just the goals, as impressive as they were with the way he attacked both goals, it was the way he defended.

“He got a yellow card in the first half and I think he showed great control and great composure to know when to step in and when to come out with the ball.”

Cresswell put Millwall ahead after 12 minutes when he rose to meet fellow summer arrival George Honeyman’s corner to plant a firm header past a static Joe Bursik.

Stoke were almost handed an equaliser when Tyrese Campbell’s shot squirmed through the clutches