‘Something pretty special’: The Portsmouth player who's getting experts excited
Ryan Kavuma-McQueen has collected two goal contributions in seven appearances for Pompey this season.
Ryan Kavuma-McQueen will produce ‘something pretty special’ at Fratton Park this season.
That’s the exciting view of George Elek from the well-respected Not The Top 20 Podcast, who has been ‘moved’ by the Chelsea loanee and his start to life with Pompey.
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Kavuma-McQueen has impressed for John Mousinho’s troops in the opening weeks of the new campaign, collecting one goal and one assist in seven appearances.
The Pompey star that’s getting experts excited
His stock has risen once again after an outstanding display against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, which saw him total 15 touches in Rovers’ box, amass 10 shots on target and set up Colby Bishop for the equaliser.
And his brilliant showing was highlighted by Elek, who has been blown away with the young attacker’s emergence.
In fact, the NTT20 co-host is backing Kavuma-McQueen to become a huge success in the Championship at Fratton Park this season.
When assessing Pompey’s draw against Blackburn, Elek said: ‘Zak Swanson scoring on the edge of the area early for Pompey to put them 1-0 up and then two goals from Blackburn.
‘Dapo Afolayan continuing his good form, cutting inside with a right-footed shot into the near-post bottom corner. This was very easy from a Pompey perspective and I think both goals will frustrate John Mousinho in terms of the way Blackburn were easily able to play through them.
‘Then Colby Bishop's goal. Bishop spent a lot of last season just being unable to get the ball in the back of the net so your team-mate just shoots and it hits you on the neck and just goes in, which is what happens here.
‘I haven’t mentioned the guy who assisted the goal because I am moved by Ryan Kavuma-McQueen.
‘This is a 17-year-old playing on loan from Chelsea, in his first loan - they’re often very difficult especially when you are a pampered academy product going into play men’s football for the first time.
‘He’s started the season very well with a lot of promise.
‘His performance here was so good for so many reasons. He was consistently Pompey’s key attacking outlet in terms of his ball carrying, came close to scoring a couple of times but the assist for the goal is what I love so much.
‘When the ball breaks down Pompey’s right-hand side, (Harry) Pickering is there for Blackburn and not only does Kavuma-McQueen show real intent to get there, shows a turn of pace which he’s got, but he shrugs him off.
‘He physically just throws him off to get there in time, then cuts in and shoots but it hit Bishop and goes in.
‘We’re going to see more of this guy but it’s seven games in now and there’s a chance we might be seeing something pretty special at Fratton Park.’