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‘He’s disappointed’: Manager says Liverpool player simply must improve

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LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Leo Ostigard of Stoke City tackles Sheyi Ojo of Millwall during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Stoke City at The Den on October 23, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images)
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images

Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo is ‘disappointed’ with his lack of starts since leaving the Premier League giants for a loan spell at Millwall, Lions boss Gary Rowett tells the News at Den. 

Cast your mind back to September 2019.

Rangers beat Feyenoord in front of a raucous Ibrox crowd in the Europa League group-stages and Ojo was the talk of the town. His stunning first-half winner felt like something of a coming-of-age moment for the one-time wonderkid. 

Two years on, it’s difficult to dispel the notion that his career has gone backwards.

From scoring European winners against one of the biggest clubs in Dutch football to sitting on the bench during a 2-1 defeat to Peterborough United.

Ojo has started just nine out of a potential 22 Championship fixtures since moving to Millwall. 

And, according to Rowett, ability is not the problem. Consistency, however, is. 

What next for Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo?

“Sheyi’s a player with such great potential both athletically and technically,” explained the former Derby County, Birmingham City and Stoke boss.

“I’m sure I’m probably sat here like Liverpool just wanting to see a tiny bit more consistent delivery of that. He’s a really good lad, he fits well into the group and works incredibly hard.

“He’s been disappointed not to have started in the last few.” 

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16: Millwall's Sheyi Ojo and Luton Town's James Bree during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Luton Town at The Den on October 16, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images

Remarkably, Millwall are the seventh different club Ojo has represented on loan since a spell at Fulham in the 2014/15 season.

He sparkled intermittently under Steven Gerrard at Rangers and did the same at Cardiff. 

Now 24 – and with his long-term future almost certain to lie away from Liverpool – Ojo really needed his latest loan move to work out. 13 games into his Millwall career, however, and his personal tally to stands at two assists and no goals.

Rowett is not the first manager to be left wanting more. Ojo will be hoping he is, however, the last.

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 04: Gary Rowett, manager of Millwall looks on prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Birmingham City at The Den on December 04, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images)
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images