Isaac Olaofe ready to learn as Millwall loanee looks to shine for St Johnstone

The striker has made a solid start since arriving at McDiarmid Park and is determined to show everyone what he can do

Isaac Olaofe will use his St Johnstone experience as an important learning curve — but insists he is ready to make an immediate impact.

The 20-year-old striker has moved north on loan from English Championship side Millwall, where manager Callum Davidson was previously assistant.

Already Olaofe has impressed, netting twice in a bounce game played between Saints’ squad members before winning both the free-kick which led to a goal and a penalty in the 2-1 win at Aberdeen.

“I feel I am doing okay,” Olaofe said yesterday. “What should people expect? Hard work, first of all, because that’s what the gaffer here has drilled into us.

“But I’d like to think I’m direct, positive, aggressive and play with a bit of pace and power.

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“I always go out to express myself on the pitch, take players on and try to get past them.

“I just have to work on my fitness because I went a long time without training properly. I was injured for about the first three weeks of the lockdown so couldn’t do anything and then it was back training on my own.

“So I hadn’t really done much of the intense stuff since back in March, so it has been a long time.

“I can feel myself getting fitter all the time now though, and hopefully in the next few weeks I’ll get up to speed.

“Training in a group is different to doing it on your own, you really get the benefit of working with the rest of the lads.

“The aim is to just learn as much as I can while I’m here, improve as much as possible and go back to Millwall a better player.”

Olaofe, who played under-23 football with Millwall, spent a short time on loan at Sutton United last season.

He said: “I realised what a great chance it would be for me to come here and show people what I can do.

“There are so many big games and games on television, so it’s exciting.

“The intensity of the game here is really sharp, it’s higher than what I was used to playing in the U23s.

“When you play U23 football, it’s about development rather than the results, but when you play real football that matters it’s a completely different game.

“In 23s, you can lose and it’s a case of ‘don’t worry’ but at first team level, you can play well but still lose and everything is on the line.

“You have to raise your levels so much to fit in and get three points and it really brings your game on.

“Going away from the environment I had been used to into a new one and dealing with different people also benefitted me.”

Joining Olaofe on loan at Saints, also from Millwall, is full-back Danny McNamara. The pair have recently moved into a flat together.

“It’s all a new experience for me, I’ve not done much sightseeing yet but I’ll get round to that,” said Olaofe.

“Having someone else from Millwall will help us both settle because if you were on your own it would be harder.

“Being with a team-mate should make the transition a lot better.

“We are friends away from football, though, so I’m glad he’s decided to come here too.”