Millwall boss Gary Rowett issues defiant verdict on Benik Afobe | OneFootball

Millwall are looking at this season with fairly high hopes of pushing up towards the play-off positions that they narrowly missed out on in 2021/22, when they finished ninth in the league.

Gary Rowett has added a number of faces to his side over the summer, including striker Benik Afobe who spent last season on loan with the Lions.

Whilst this was an addition that excited many after he finished last season with 12 league goals for the Lions, the 29-year-old has had a slow start to the season and is yet to score his first goal of the season.

However, his manager has no doubt over his ability to succeed across the season as Rowett told News at Den: “Every striker thrives on confidence and every striker thrives on goals. In order to score goals, nine times out ten, they need chances.

“Benik has had some chances, not glaringly obvious ones, but even the one at Norwich where it comes to him. If he just gets a split second longer to think about it, he probably reacts and scores. He has other moments against Swansea where they’re sort of half-chances.

“Benik is a goalscorer. Whilst his role for the team is vastly important, he’s there to stick away any moves and any changes that we do create because that’s his sole job.

“I’m confident for him that the goals will flow. Once he gets one, I think he’ll go on and score a few. I think any striker want to get off the mark and get into the season, but we’re only five games in. It’s a striker’s life unfortunately, they get judged on goals but there’s obviously a lot more to the game as well.”

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The Verdict:

This is obviously not the start that Afobe would’ve wanted to the season. As a striker, he knows his job in the team is to put the ball in the back of the net and he will be eager to achieve that.

That being said, being a striker is a key position in which you thrive off confidence. Therefore, if he can get the first goal to kick him off this season, he can easily go on to score more and have an impact for his side this season.

He will be reassured by the fact his manager is standing behind him and retaining confidence in his ability to score as this will serve as motivation to spur him on.

As Rowett’s side prepare for a visit from Reading this weekend, Afobe will no doubt be working hard to try and get off the mark.