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‘Teesside Haaland’ and Stoke City linked midfielder in 11 League One gems with transfer decisions
It is the time of year when Championship managers and scouts are underlining names they have spent months watching in the lower leagues, deciding whether it is time to make a move in the summer transfer window.
The big hope is that they can unearth the next Ivan Toney or Jamie Vardy, while Stoke City have dived into League One recently to recruit Jack Bonham, Jordan Thompson and Alfie Doughty, who has since won promotion to the Premier League with Luton Town.
So who should be catching the eye of Alex Neil this time around? When we did this list 12 months ago, all-but three of the players highlighted went on to play and do well in the Championship the following season, one of the other three went straight to the Premier League and the two other two are hoping to go up as League One champions.
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This time we have focused on players who have been on loan in League One, with decisions to be made imminently about the next step of their careers.
Finn Azaz, midfielder, aged 22, on loan at Plymouth Argyle from Aston Villa
Azaz has played a key role in Plymouth winning promotion.
The 22-year-old has chipped in with seven goals and eight assists despite missing a chunk of the winter with a fractured ankle. He had spent the previous campaign on loan at Newport County with similar figures in League Two.
It remains to be seen what his next move will be, with a breakthrough at Villa difficult, but Plymouth boss Steven Schumacher sees scope for further improvement, saying recently: “He has been good for us this season. He has got loads of goals and a good number of assists.
“I think he can keep trying to get on the ball more and get himself in good positions, and try and get his shots away. That’s what we are always challenging the number 10s to do.”
Conor Bradley, right-back, aged 19, on loan at Bolton Wanderers from Liverpool
There are high hopes for the Northern Ireland teenager, who has been named Bolton’s player of the year, players’ player of the year and supporters’ player of the year.
He has played 58 games for club and country this season, scoring seven times, while Bolton have kept a club record 26 clean sheets too, with a play-off campaign to come.
“When I came here at the start of the season I wanted to give it my all and see where that took me. It has been a pretty good season, to be fair, but we are not finished yet and we will go on to the play-offs now and see where it takes us,” he told the Bolton News.
Josh Coburn, forward, aged 20, on loan at Bristol Rovers from Middlesbrough
Coburn has been through a lean spell since the turn of the year while nursing a couple of injuries but he has otherwise shown enough to earn himself the nickname of the ‘Teesside Haaland’.
Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton said: “I think he’s got an enormous future out in front of him if he gets a bit of luck with injuries. I think he could go on to play for England.
“We’d love to have him on a five-year deal but we’ve got him for a year and it’s great to be part of his journey, he’s a fantastic lad and a top player. I think you could see him go on, you might see him playing in a World Cup playing for England.
“Name me some young centre-forwards like him, name me young English boys at 19 who are scoring virtually one every two games at League One level. Not only that, handling the physicality. Everyone is looking for these forwards and, trust me, he’s got all the components – if he keeps developing his game – to go on and be an elite-level player.”
Nigel Lonwijk, centre-back, aged 20, on loan at Plymouth Argyles from Wolves
Rotherham turned down the chance to sign Lonwijk after a trial last summer and that has proven the gain of Plymouth, where he has been a useful squad player. He has been used in the middle, on the right and left of a back three and at wing-back.
“He’s so calm on the ball,” said Schumacher. “Occasionally he makes a mistake but which player doesn’t? He has been brilliant and he has played a lot of games for us now, which is new to him.
“He went on loan last year to a team in the Dutch league (Fortuna Sittard) and played a handful of games, but this is his most appearances that he has had. He’s going to be a good player, another one that we are seeing the best of, and looks as though he’s enjoying his football as well.”
Bali Mumba, wing-back, aged 21, on loan at Plymouth Argyle from Norwich
The League One young player of the year is another loanee making a big impact at Plymouth, where he has scored six and assisted seven playing either at left or right wing-back. Norwich are expected to give him a chance to stake a claim to be part of their back four next term.
“He has been unbelievable for us,” Schumacher told the Plymouth Herald. “From the minute he walked through the door everyone fell in love with him, just the way he is, the way he smiles, the way his attitude is.
“You can’t help but like him and his performances on the pitch have been brilliant. He has scored some big goals for us and come up with some huge assists.
“He has played a lot of minutes as well, which is something that he didn’t manage to do in his last loan spell. When we spoke to him in the summer we said we felt this club would suit him down to the ground and we would get the best out of him.”
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, right winger, aged 20, on loan at Charlton Athletic from Crystal Palace
It’s 15 goals and eight assists for Rak-Sakyi in his first season of regular men’s football, playing mostly on the right of a three-man attack for Charlton Athletic.
Dean Holden labelled him as one of the best young players he’s worked with, telling the South London Press: “Jes has done brilliant. He had a really good season last season in U21s football – he got a high number of goals and assists in that. He’s had the confidence to come out of his comfort zone and come into men’s football for the first time.
“To be involved in so many goals is a wonderful achievement. He fully deserves to be in the reckoning for the young player of the year. But there is still some more for him to do this season, I’ve spoken to him about that. There are more goals and assists in him, along with general play.
“Get into those goalscoring areas rather than waiting out on the wing and waiting for the ball to come. Defensively he has shown so much more improvement in terms of his positioning.
“His individual brilliance in terms of one-v-one ability is there for all to see. I’ve worked with some wonderful young players over the years but he is right up there. He is a joy to work with. He is not a minute’s hassle – he is low-maintenance but he is high output.
“He gets on with his job and just loves playing football with the ball at his feet. He’s got a fantastic career ahead of him, he really has.”
Killian Phillips, midfielder, aged 21, on loan at Shrewsbury Town from Crystal Palace
Republic of Ireland junior is being linked with Stoke after an eye-catching half-season under Steve Cotterill, named Shrewsbury’s young player of the year as he helped them to their best finish in six seasons.
He has ambitions to crack it at Palace, telling the Irish Independent: “I want to try and become a Palace player. I’m going to try my best to impress in pre-season. Hopefully by the time the season rolls around, if I’ve impressed and I’ll be in the team. I’m desperate to play for Crystal Palace to be honest, I love everything about the club.”
Cotterill, who has called him ‘immense’, had wanted him last summer but then Palace manager Patrick Vieira chose to keep him close at hand.
“The best part of Killian Phillips is what he is as a lad, that is the best part of him,” said the Shrewsbury boss. “There is going to be a lot of good footballers out there and a lot of good athletes it is if you can marry that up with being a good person about it as well.”
He added: “He is a big, strong boy. He’s 6ft 3in, can nick a goal, he’s very good in both boxes and a really good athlete as well – he’s a strong runner. Because of his size, he’s not necessarily going to be a sprinter – but he’s a strong runner and a really, really, good lad… he’s aggressive.”
Haydon Roberts, defender, aged 20, on loan at Derby County from Brighton
The England youth international is out of contract at Brighton this summer after an eye-catching season with Derby, whether at left-back or centre-half.
“He’s got real ability to travel with the ball and he’s deceptively quick with it at his feet,” said Derby boss Paul Warne.
“He is my kind of player. He is coachable, he is athletic, he is aggressive and he wants to get better.
“We have conversations with players all the time and that will continue.”
Caleb Taylor, centre-half, aged 20, on loan at Cheltenham Town from West Brom
The son of former Birmingham centre-half Martin Taylor is making a name in his own right and has been a regular for Cheltenham Town in his breakthrough senior season.
Has a battle on his hands to get into West Brom’s plans – up against Dara O’Shea, Semi Ajayi, Kyle Bartley and Cedric Kipre – but he is ready to take that on in the summer.
“The fans will have seen a lot of Caleb if they’d watched the cup run we had last year. For me, he’s a player with huge potential,” said Albion under 21s manager Richard Beale.
“He’s very level headed, which is great. He’s got a lot of physical attributes, he’s obviously a big, strong lad but he’s so level headed. He’s a fantastic learner. He only needs to be told something once and he picks it up, and he’s very humble as well – he has a great humility about him. That’s going to stand him in good stead. I think he’s got a great future here.”
Bobby Thomas, centre-half, aged 22, on loan at Barnsley from Burnley
Spent the first half of the season on loan at Bristol Rovers before establishing himself as a key player at Barnsley, who have surged into a play-off spot. Former Burnley man Michael Duff, the Barnsley manager, has an option to make the deal permanent if they win promotion.
“I think he has proved himself to be a good player and I don’t think we are the only ones who have seen him play well,” said Duff.
“He’s been very good – barely putting a foot wrong on the right of an impressive back three,” said Barnsley reporter Doug O’Kane.
James Trafford, goalkeeper, aged 20, on loan at Bolton Wanderers from Manchester City
Shared Bolton’s young player of the year award with Bradley a clean-sheet heavy campaign to guide the club into the League One play-off places.
He might be heading on loan again next season but The Bolton News suggests a return to Bolton, who have had him for 18 months, is not on the cards.
“I feel like I have achieved a lot at Bolton but I expected to do that, I back myself and have confidence in what I can do,” he said. “I think Manchester City are pleased – but to be honest we don’t talk too much about positive stuff, it is always about where I can get better, how I can improve – and that is what I am focusing on, really.”
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