Millwall boss Gary Rowett has claimed that Mason Bennett is not ready to play for a full 90 minutes despite looking bright during his debut during the 1-0 defeat to Wigan over the weekend.

Bennett was introduced as a 64th-minute substitute during the Lions' 1-0 loss at the DW Stadium, with the Derby loanee coming off the bench to help Rowett's men back into the game after they had fallen behind to Shaun Hutchinson's own goal.

This was Bennett's first Championship appearance since his cameo during Derby's win over Preston in late November, with the 23-year-old having been frozen out of the first-team fold at Pride Park prior to his mid-season loan switch to The Den.

The attacker was involved in a number of attacking opportunities for Millwall following his second-half introduction, but he ultimately could not help Rowett's side get back into the game as they slipped to a 1-0 loss against the Latics.

Speaking to London News Online, Rowett expressed his belief that Bennett had given his side more attacking intent during his time on the pitch, but the Millwall boss suggested Bennett's fitness level means he will not be able to start anytime soon.

"When Mason Bennett came on, I felt he gave us a little bit of intent attacking wise, before then I felt we played a little bit tepid in those forward areas,” Rowett said.

“I still think his fitness will be an issue for the whole game, we have to think he as hasn’t played much or any football at all in the last two or three months, today was his first taste of that.”

Bennett has now made a total of 10 senior appearances this campaign following his debut for the Lions over the weekend, but the attacker has not managed to find the net since his effort against West Brom on the last day of the regular 2018/19 season.

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The Verdict

Millwall certainly gambled on Bennett when they agreed to sign him on loan from Derby towards the end of the January window, but his contribution against Wigan suggests he could be an important player for he Lions going forward.

Bennett was at the heart of most Millwall chances during the closing stages of the match at the DW Stadium, and he could be a great option from the bench for Rowett even if his fitness level is not quite at the required level at the moment.

It will be interesting to see whether Bennett is able to earn himself a permanent move to Millwall at the end of the season, but he will surely need to prove his fitness during the remaining 12 games of the campaign.