ROAR TALENT OF LOAN LIONS
Millwall boss Edwards excited with what new boys can add to his team
JOE EDWARDS knows it will take a few weeks before Millwall see the best of loan signings Japhet Tanganga and Michael Obafemi.
Tanganga looked like a player making his first start of the season, having endured a frustrating first half of the season on loan at Bundesliga outfit Augsburg.
The Tottenham defender (below, battling with Andrew Hughes) gifted Preston a 33rd-minute leveller with a wayward pass into midfield that allowed Mads Frokjaer to send Brad Potts clear to score.
Lions manager Edwards (circle, above) said: “I have known Japh for a long time. He is quite a quiet lad but very composed.
“Although he defends and competes with aggression and uses his power, he always has that calm demeanour.
“The mistake is a mistake. It is out of character, everyone can make a mistake.
“After that he got back to where he was individually and the stat is that he continued to take the ball.
“He was a big outlet for us and hopefully he can keep building. It’s been a long time since he played 90 minutes so there will be an element of rustiness about his game.
“I want him to add to us and make us a better team but in these initial games there has to be a bit of leeway there.
“These players cannot just step into this team and turn it on that quickly.”
Obafemi has been restricted to two late substitute appearances for Burnley this season, and made his Lions debut off the bench.
Edwards said: “I’d be very surprised if we get to a point where he can start next week but he’s a very good impact player for now.”
Zian Flemming headed in his sixth goal in four games to give the Lions a fifth-minute lead.
But the Dutch forward admitted the way the hosts fell apart at the end of the first half after conceding was concerning.
He said: “You could see after their goal, the whole momentum changed.
“It was like we were shocked. It is something that we need to work on.
“First we have to see exactly what it is that happens, why does it happen and then how do we break that pattern?”
Preston are unlikely to be welcoming any new players to Deepdale this week but completed a major signing in getting midfielder Ben Whiteman to agree a new deal on Friday.
Potts, who scored his first goal since October, joked that Whiteman committing his future to Preston was something else that was long overdue.
He said: “It was about time he put pen to paper. He has kept everyone waiting. Obviously everything has to be right for him and the club.
“All the lads are delighted he has signed his deal and we are happy that he is going to be here.”