Millwall boss on “difficult situation” as Lyle Taylor refuses to finish season with Charlton Athletic

Millwall manager Gary Rowett has had his say on Lyle Taylor missing Charlton’s Championship run-in.

The two sides meet at The Valley tomorrow night.

Taylor, 30, has scored 36 goals in 67 matches for the Addicks. But the Montserrat international – a free agent this summer – has not made himself available for the run-in because he is worried about suffering an injury that scuppers a lucrative transfer.

The former Lions frontman is thought to have a number of top Championship sides interested in his signature as well as options outside of England.

Taylor has spoken before about how his release by Millwall was used as motivational fuel to prove himself.

But the striker missed the reverse fixture between the two clubs with a knee injury.

Taylor’s decision not to play deprives Charlton boss Lee Bowyer of his attacking talismanic, the striker had notched 11 goals in 22 Championship matches.

“He’s a very good player,” said Rowett. “It’s a difficult one.

“My manager’s head says that you’re always going to be disappointed when a player says they don’t want to finish the season with your team.

“But my player’s head says if you’ve got a young family and you’ve been offered a deal which makes a big difference to your life, then it’s always going to be a really difficult situation.

“I sort of see both sides.

“A lot of clubs have got the same situation and players that perhaps are worried about committing until the end of the season for various reasons. We’re quite fortunate we don’t have to deal with that.

“Lyle Taylor is a very good player but Charlton have won two out of their three games without him, so I don’t think it really matters at this point.

“We’ll still have to go there and win the game.”

PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS