Gary Rowett expresses doubts over Arsenal defender returning to Millwall next season

Millwall manager Gary Rowett reckons Arsenal may want to send Daniel Ballard out on loan to another club next season.

The 22-year-old Northern Ireland international made 33 appearances for the Lions with a couple of injuries – including knee surgery – preventing him clocking up even more game time.

Ballard chose Millwall as his loan destination before the start of the season – opting for them ahead of Championship new boys Blackpool, who he had won promotion with via the League One play-offs in 2020-21.

Rowett told the South London Press: “It’s really simple with Dan. He’s done really well. If Dan was available again we would certainly welcome him back.

“But I don’t expect he will be [coming back to Millwall] because I think Arsenal will probably seek a different type of challenge for him. It’s what those type of clubs tend to do. He’s had a good season in the Championship. Will they look for something else? I don’t know.

“We’ve got Lenny [Ryan Leonard] who is coming back in and it would have been nice to see him fit this season. If he was then we might not have needed to recruit in that area. We’ve got George Evans as well in that area who has had limited game time but performed really well in those positions.

“Alex Mitchell is coming back and he did so well [on loan] at Leyton Orient. I think we’ve got players to fill those roles.”