Marco Silva believes talented teenager Josh King can have ‘a bigger impact’ this season after making his senior breakthrough last year.

The attacking midfielder signed a four-year deal with the Whites this summer after starring in the first-team last term and the Fulham boss feels that the eighteen year-old is now a key member of his first team squad. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League opener at Brighton and Hove Albion, Silva said:

“He is a great talent that is important in all aspects of this club. Not just about the senior team, but to show that the pathway is there for players that show the quality and to then achieve it. Last season – half of it, he was seventeen. He made his debut, and his [full] debut as a starting eleven player. We did a great job with him every single day at the training ground. Because of that, he’s much more ready right now.

He has grown from a physical point of view, from a mental and tactical point of view too. He has the talent to do the other parts of the game, that he knows how to do very well. If you ask me for my expectations of him? I don’t want to put all this pressure around himself.

Josh is the same as Emile Smith Rowe or Andreas Pereira. If, during the week he shows me he is ready to play ahead of the others, then he is going to play. He had a very good pre-season I have to say. He is going to be in contention for the game. Whether he will start or not, you’ll have to wait for the match. I really hope he can have a bigger impact this season.”