The 'exemplary' teenage talent tipped to shine in injury-ravaged Portsmouth's time of need
The talented teenager was playing in the Isthmian League South Central Division five days earlier
Catapulted from playing in front of 292 people into a Football League debut watched by a 24,649 crowd at Ashton Gate, it represented a remarkable five days.
Nonetheless, the man who oversaw Tayo Singerr’s blossoming Moneyfields stint is adamant the talented teenager will take his surprise Pompey opportunity in his stride.
With 14 goals in 18 appearances in the Isthmian League South Central Division this season, John Mousinho turned to the 18-year-old on New Year’s Day to help plug the Blues’ latest injury crisis.
It involved the second-year scholar jumping seven divisions to reach the Championship, where he was introduced off the bench in the 74th minute of the 5-0 defeat at Bristol City.
Irrespective of the scoreline, it was a proud moment for Moneyfields’ director of football Glenn Turnbull, who recruited the striker on loan at the John Jenkins Stadium in August.
‘Tayo has been exemplary’
And will an FA Cup tie against Arsenal next on the horizon, he is convinced Singerr - who previously netted against Reading in the Carabao Cup for the Blues this term - won’t let Mousinho down.
Turnbull told The News: ‘Tayo has been brilliant, since he walked through the door a couple of days after scoring for Pompey against Reading, he fitted straight into the group and hit the ground running.
‘The biggest mark of respect to him - and also Ciaran Martin who we’ve had from Pompey - is they are a credit to the club and also good people off the pitch. No big egos or attitudes whatsoever, Tayo has been exemplary.
‘When we signed him, I thought he would be in behind, running into the channels, but he’s actually held it up really well when we’ve needed him to.
‘I don’t think he will play up top in a one in the Championship, that’s for sure, but what he has in abundance is he knows where the goal is. Give him three chances at any level of football and I feel confident he would finish at least one.
‘Clearly you would want a centre-forward to score goals - and Tayo does. He’s strong, holds it up well, is quite slight in his height, so he’s not a massive big tall centre-forward, but he has bits of everything.
‘What doubt he has developed and grown with us. To leave us as second-top scorer in the Isthmian South Central is testament to him.
‘At any level of football, unless you are Wayne Rooney you need to have a couple of things about you, one of them being luck. You need to be in the right place at the right time and take the chances.
‘Tayo has shown that and, while it is a massive step from what he is used to, he will take it in his stride. This is a lad who definitely knows where the goal is.’
Little did Moneyfields realise that Singerr’s two goals in a 3-0 victory at Littlehampton Town on December 27 would signal a farewell appearance.
Just three days later, Pompey called to announce they were recalling the youngster with a view to involving him in their first-team set-up.
It represents a huge blow to the third-placed side, although Turnbull remains ‘extremely grateful’ that the Blues allowed Singerr to spend time with them in the first place.
‘He probably wants to go and play a bit higher’
He added: ‘In fairness to the kid, he probably wants to go and play a bit higher. Fair play, we would have loved to have had him longer.
‘When speaking to Pompey, I didn’t quite have my begging bowl or offered to wash their kit for them, but we weren't far away from doing that!
‘My pitch to Pompey was basically why take him away, the kid is scoring goals at a decent level, he’s enjoying it, he has a chance of maybe sneaking into the play-offs or maybe getting promotion with us.
‘Tayo may or may not get an extended run with Pompey now, but I would imagine that, as soon as they get a squad, they will look to get him out on loan again somewhere with a Step 2 or Step 3 club.
‘We wish him all the very best and are also extremely grateful to Pompey for letting us have him. They have been brilliant with us.’