Millwall manager Gary Rowett has admitted that he did not think the club would be able to pull off a deal to bring Ryan Woods to the club this month. 

Woods signed a loan deal at The Den until the end of the season last week after falling out of favour at Stoke City and, after impressing on his debut last Saturday, Rowett admitted his surprise at the deal going through.

“I didn’t think we’d be able to get him, in all honesty," he said after the game on the acquisition of Woods, reported by London News Online.

"It’s a brilliant deal for us. He was our number one target. He’s a little bit of everything, Woodsy.

"He can build possession really well. But the bit I like about him as much as anything and why he is such a good fit is that he’s a feisty little player."

QUIZ: Can you name the last nine Millwall men to wear the no. 9 shirt?

Woods made the move to the Bet365 Stadium back in the summer of 2018, but fell out of favour after Rowett lost his job with the club.

This season saw him make just eight Championship appearances before he was rescued by The Lions, with neither Michael O'Neill or Nathan Jones putting their faith in his abilities.

But he played the full 90 minutes on his Millwall debut as they dispatched Reading 2-0 at The Den to move to within four points of the play-offs, with a game in hand on seven of those above them.

The verdict

I think this is a really smart signing for Millwall.

As much as they pride themselves on being a tough, tenacious team, they do need that element of class on the ball, particularly in midfield, and Woods certainly brings that.

The fact that he is also a tough player is just a significant bonus and he looks all set to become a firm fan favourite at The Den.