Charlie Cresswell has told BBC Radio Leeds that his form to begin with on loan at Millwall last season was somewhat “erratic”, as the Leeds defender looked to make a quick and early impression – calming down as the year went on.
Cresswell, 20, moved to the Capital last summer on loan along with Jamie Shackleton. It came after managing just seven senior outings for the Whites. But he returns to Leeds now, as our only recognised right-sided centre-back.
It is a stark contrast to January, with Leeds seemingly willing to let the England U21 European champion leave the club. The Sun said that Middlesbrough were interested in a £4m deal for the centre-back. But he stayed out on loan.
Cresswell’s agent Hayden Evans even said recently to The Athletic that the club now want to keep him – after being open to his exit during Victor Orta and Jesse Marsch’s tenure. He spoke about his form last season at Millwall.
“On the pitch, I feel like I grew as a player. I was more calm in how I was playing, at the start of the season I was really trying to impress. It showed in my performances – I was kind of erratic on some occasions,” Cresswell said.
“I grew into the games, and became calmer – allowing my ability to surface. I know I’ve got the ability, it was about learning the mental side of it. I wouldn’t have changed that [going to Millwall], it was a brilliant place to learn.”
Cresswell says form was erratic as Leeds star tried to make impression
Cresswell enjoyed a successful season at Millwall and it could be argued that had he not fractured his eye against West Brom in April, his presence in the side for the final few games might have got Millwall into the top six play-offs.
Instead, Millwall missed out and Cresswell is back at Leeds where he looks set to be Daniel Farke’s first-choice option on the right side of central defence. Liam Cooper and Pascal Struijk are the other centre-back options.
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