Paul Warne talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Rotherham United caretaker manager Paul Warne says he is proud of the player that departs AESSEAL New York Stadium, following Chelsea’s recall of attacker Izzy Brown.The Millers’ boss says the absence of the England youngster will be felt in the dressing room and insists he will closely track the progress of the highly-rated 19-year-old who has starred in South Yorkshire since his summer arrival.
“He's been excellent and I wish him all the best and I will follow his career like he is one of my children,” Warney told www.themillers.co.uk.
“I am proud of the fact that I think he has left here a great player. He came here a great player don't get me wrong, but he's got a little bit of Millers in him now so he'll be even better.
“The lads loved him and he'll be sorely missed in the changing room.”
Warne admits that it has been hard to suppress his fitness coaching mindset at times with Brown under his tutelage but believes the opportunity to work with the Three Lions’ youngster has seen him grow as a player.
“I said to him that I thought that it was fate that I was going to be his manager,” he continued.
“I think he probably needed someone like me to make him run and he could run.
"He did want to go forward but wasn't so keen going the other way and he changed his ways and looked at himself a little bit and he knew all his teammates were doing it and it was as much to do with them as it was me.
“I thought that he could only play as a number 10 for us and I said that to him. I spoke to him earlier and yesterday and he's enjoyed his time here and he definitely leaves as a better player.”
The Millers’ caretaker finished by admitting it was tough to learn of the recall to Stamford Bridge, but understands the reasons for his recall to the capital.
“I think the world of him and he's a good kid. He wanted to stay but the club wanted to progress his development and probably add to his worth by playing for a team in the top six or top eight.
“The last six or seven games he's really been athletic on the pitch and he's been an outstanding contributor to us going forward."