Young Millwall striker Jamie Philpot is keen on a new deal with the Championship surprise package, but understands that nothing is certain.

The 21-year-old striker is on loan at National League South side Welling, having joined in January.

He scored twice in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Hungerford Town, but could find himself released in July if his parent club do not take up the offer of a 12-month option on his existing deal.

“I’d be a little bit disappointed if I had to consider life without Millwall," he told South London Press and Mercury. "I joined them when I was eight years old. But then again, football is a harsh game. Football owes you nothing. Nothing is guaranteed in football, you have to go and earn it. If that means you need to go somewhere else to prove yourself then that is what you have to do. It happens at every club, up and down the country."

Philpot burst onto the scene in 2015 as an 80th minute sub away at Wolves.

He scored, then came off eight minutes later with an injury.

Since then, chances have been few and far between and he's enjoyed loan spells with Bromley and Woking prior to Welling. He's obviously keen to extend his stay at The Den, citing boss Neil Harris as an influence in his recent form.

“I’d love to stay at Millwall, the manager and boys there are fantastic,” he said. “They have exceeded expectations in the Championship in terms of more than just survival. Their style of play suits the way I play and I have taken from that. I have learnt from Neil Harris and the coaching staff. When I’ve scored goals this season, and I spent the first half of it on loan at Woking, I’d say 75 per cent of my goals have been from runs that they tell us to make."

After a slow start at Woking he eventually struck five in 30, but his Welling experience has been much better, yielding five goals from seven outings.

The Verdict

Young Jamie is making all the right noises, praising his current boss and expressing love for the club. He's right though, football doesn't owe anybody anything.

I can see him being released and winding up somewhere in the National League or League Two next season, but that can be a good route to take. If he'd scored ten or twelve at Woking, things might have been different.