Leeds United youngster Charlie Cresswell has been praised for coming through a rough patch during his loan spell with Millwall and has been excellent according to Lions boss Gary Rowett. The Whites loanee is highly thought of at Elland Road and has long been touted as the next academy graduate to nail down a place in the starting XI with Leeds.
Away from a dismal Premier League campaign, Cresswell has overcome problems and mistakes of his own, but has been one of the standout performers for the Championship side in their push for the play-offs. Since February, the 20-year-old has been a mainstay in Rowett's starting XI.
“The last few weeks I’ve shown when I step away, when I’m calmer, that I play much better,” Cresswell told the South London Press. “That’s what I’ve been doing – long may it continue.”
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When asked about Cresswell’s comments, Rowett said: “It’s something myself, Adam (Barrett) and Robbo (Paul Robinson) have spoken about quite a lot – those decisions of a centre-half and when you can go and win a ball. When a striker drops off into those little areas where you’re not sure and sometimes you have to stay back, live to fight another day and pass them on to a midfielder – not get exposed.
“If you look at the start of the season, your strength can sometimes be your weakness a little bit. You’re so aggressive and want to do well but in that position you have to play with a calm head as well as aggression.
“He has done that really, really well in this last period of games. He’s been excellent for us.
“He’s had lots of good spells. He’ll admit it himself that he made two or three errors, that any young player would make. The key is not about making an error but learning from it and not repeating it too often.
“He has really calmed down and matured in how he thinks about the game. He’s getting the benefit from it because he has got amazing attributes for a young centre-back – aggression and desire, sometimes you can’t find them as much nowadays. Honing them is easier than finding them in the first place.
“He’s done really well and I’ve been really impressed. He’s got to maintain that level, like all of the defenders around him. Defending with composure is just as important as defending with aggression. You’ve got to make sure you make those good decisions.
“He should be applauded for taking it on. We can mention it to him but he’s the one in the firing line and got to get out there and do it when the muck and bullets are flying. Ultimately he has really, really improved that aspect of his game.”
Cresswell enjoyed a fierce battle with Reading's Andy Carroll at the weekend, drawing praise from Royals' boss Paul Ince and it was Millwall that came away with three points.
“There was one early on that looked like he (Carroll) caught Sav in the face with what looked like an elbow,” said Rowett. “But when you watch it back, it’s just a trailing arm.
“I think Paul (Ince) said on the sidelines to one of the officials: ‘It’s just a good, old-fashioned battle between Andy Carroll and whoever is up against him’.
“It was interesting he went and played on Cressy’s side, to try and get away from Coops and gain an advantage.
“But to be fair to Cressy he had a bit of an old-fashioned ding-dong with him, didn’t he? He won a header and put Andy on the floor. Then Andy won a header and put Cressy on the floor.
“For a young player he dealt with it fantastically well. It’s another great experience to add to the list, there are not many Andy Carrolls left anymore in any level of football.
“I wouldn’t look back and try and get someone punished for a challenge. It was a good honest battle and they both played their part in it.”
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