Connor Mahoney returns to his boyhood club this weekend but anticipates ‘a few boos’ from the home stands.

The winger turned down the offer of an extended contract at Rovers after relegation from the Championship and secured a move to Premier League side Bournemouth.

He was given a mixed reception during his previous visit to Ewood Park in December 2018 while on loan at Birmingham and expects something similar this time around.

Mahoney made his Rovers debut in January 2014 at the age of 16, having joined from Accrington Stanley just weeks before, but would make only six league starts before deciding to move on.

A summer of speculation ended in a move to the south coast which pocketed Rovers an initial £425,000, a few set by an independent tribunal.

Now with Millwall, after a seven-figure move in the summer, Mahoney has started every single game for the Lions and is expected to keep his place in the side for this weekend’s game.

The 22-year-old made just two FA Cup appearances for Bournemouth, and had two spells out on loan with Barnsley and Birmingham, but is enjoying life at the New Den.

“It’ll be good to go back. I’ve been back once before, with Birmingham. I didn’t get the best reception,” Mahoney said in an interview with Southwark News.

“My family will be in the crowd. My friends will be in the Rovers end.

“My family have been to most of the Millwall games, every single one at The Den. They know what it’s like there and they’ve enjoyed the experience of coming and seeing me at a different club.

“It will be strange but it’ll be a good experience. I’ll probably get the same reception I did last time, a few boos but that’s part and parcel of the game. I’m not really bothered about that.

“My contract ran out there and I accepted a different challenge at Bournemouth.”