Marco Silva says Fulham’s sixteen-year starlet Seth Ridgeon is ‘a very talented player’ who has all the attributes to make his mark in senior football.
The Portuguese head coach reiterated his delight that the attacking midfielder committed his future to the Cottagers this summer – despite interest from Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain among others. Ridgeon has starred in Fulham’s under-18 and under-21 sides but Silva was coy when asked by Jack Kelly if the talented youngster would feature in the matchday squad for tonight’s League Cup tie against Bristol City.
“Let’s what the decision is going to be. It was very important for us to renew his contract. He’s a very very talented player that we have on our hands. Seth has to take the right steps in the right moments. I’m not here to rush decisions [on players] just because they have talent. They have to show whether they are ready to do it. He’s doing the right things – he scored an important goal for the under-21s. This week, he was [training] with us.
“He’s going to be around the [first] team, he went to Portugal with us – in the right moment, when I decide, he’s going to have the chance. Let’s see if it’s going to be tomorrow or not. He didn’t have a normal pre-season because he took the time to decide his future. He has to do his job tomorrow with the U21s, as they have an important match too. But, let’s see what my decision is going to be.
At Fulham, we prepare our under-21 players for the first team, if we need them. We’re always in direct contact [with the under 21s players and coaches]. If we need them they are going to be ready to help the first team. if we need them, like we did yesterday for example, [when] I had 10/11 under 21s training with the first team. I am ready to give the chance to them – whether it is the case of Seth, Josh King, Martial Godo or Sam [Amissah].”
