‘Lot of development potential’ – Millwall head coach Edwards on January transfer swoop for Morecambe’s Adam Mayor

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Millwall head coach Joe Edwards has emphasised that there is no pressure on new signing Adam Mayor to make an instant impact.

The Lions completed a £300,000 deal for the Morecambe winger, 19, on Wednesday.

Mayor, who has previously been in England training camps at U19 and U20 level, has scored six goals in 67 matches for the League Two Shrimps. The teenager has been booked 11 times this season and is suspended for Millwall’s Championship match at Hull tomorrow.

The South London club view Mayor as another project signing in the mould of Aidomo Emakhu, signed from Shamrock Rovers a year ago.

“Adam joins our squad straight away and will train with us every day,” Edwards told the South London Press, when asked if Mayor comes straight into his first-team plans. “The rest remains to be seen on how Adam adapts.

“There are loads of twists and turns in how our season may play out but when you look at it another way there is basically only three months left. He is a young person moving down to London on his own – it’s a big move – so we have to be understanding of some adaptation to that and the fact he is stepping up in level.

“He is definitely a player who has been brought in for the future, rather than to have a huge impact in the second half of our season.

“At the same time if he trains well and gets on the bench – with an opportunity to play – then if he produces the goods he will get game time.

“The first part of the big step is to move down to London, get settled first and hopefully kick on from there.”

Mayor is Millwall’s third addition of the January transfer window.

“He is a very direct wide player,” said Edwards. “He is versatile – he can play in a number of positions.

“He has got good physicality for such a young player. He is a quick, powerful and strong runner – more than willing to do all the ugly side of the game. He works very hard and presses and, not only that, when he gets there he makes physical contact.

“The big standout is that he likes to be direct and get the ball, whether that be as a winger or a wing-back role, if needed, as a more offensive type one. He is a player the club have been tracking for a while – it’s important to always be planning ahead as well as what improves the squad right now.

“Adam is a player I was aware of before I came to Millwall, in the England role I had, so I was keen on getting it done. There is lot of development potential but also, for the age he is at, he already has a decent amount of experience. You’ve got to have a good mentality to play as much as he has.”

PICTURES: BRIAN TONKS