Leeds United in line for penalty clause boost amid unexpected Charlie Cresswell development at Millwall
Charlie Cresswell’s loan spell at Millwall has taken an unexpected twist with the Leeds United centre-back failing to play in the last two games.
In fact, the 20-year-old defender has been completely left out of Gary Rowett’s last two matchday squads in the Championship even though he hasn’t been injured.
After the seemingly in-form defender missed the 1-1 draw with Rotherham on 5 October, Rowett confirmed that it wasn’t due to injury and it was a selection decision he’d made.
And after he was absent again on Saturday (8 October), when Millwall won 2-0 against Middlesbrough at The Den, Rowett told South London Press that Cresswell’s absence was down to the fact that someone had to be left out after a change of formation.
“I don’t want to leave young Charlie or Scottie (Scott Malone)out of the squad but unfortunately two players have to be out of the squad,” said Rowett.
It’s frustrating for Leeds to see one of their best young players to be out on loan and not getting any minutes.
Cresswell had played in all but two of Millwall’s Championship games this season before the trip to Rotherham earlier this month, scoring three goals in those nine appearances.
The Athletic journalist Phil Hay reported on 20 September that Cresswell is seen as “the future” at centre-back at Elland Road.
He’ll only get there, however, if he’s playing regularly and developing well.
And while it’s annoying that Cresswell’s game-time has taken a nosedive at The Den, at least we know Leeds will profit financially from it.
Hay claimed that Leeds didn’t ask for a loan fee from Millwall for Cresswell. However, “the deal with Gary Rowett’s team will impose penalty clauses if he fails to play as much as Leeds want”.
Obviously, it’s a concern that he’s not made either of Rowett’s last two matchday squads in the Championship so you’d expect that there’ll be financial sanctions placed upon the London club in order to make up for the defender’s drop in game-time.
Leeds do also have an option to recall Cresswell in January.
He cannot be allowed to rot in Millwall’s reserves and needs to return to Elland Road as soon as the New Year comes around unless his minutes increase again.
In other Leeds United news, an unexpected exit could be on the cards at Leeds after what happened in the Premier League on Friday.