Fulham youngster Ryan Sessegnon has the tools to be a Premier League superstar… but he must remain grounded
Craven Cottage fans already love the flying winger and know he's destined for the top but 2018-19 could be huge for him
EVERY fan wants to see their own youngsters breaking through into the first team... that one gem who they can sing loud and proud as "one of their own".
Fulham supporters have found that in Ryan Sessegnon.
The majority of the country gossips about which club he is going to next, only seeing the impressive highlights reel each week as he comes up with yet another goal.
But his maturity on and off the pitch and the transparent love in return he has for Fulham is what makes this bond between club and player so special.
Ryan has been at Fulham since he was a youngster, with twin brother Steven also on the fringes of the first team squad.
He is very happy, very settled with his head screwed on when it comes to what's best for his career.
Everybody knows that one day Ryan will be playing for a bigger club than Fulham but for now, it's the right place for the future England starlet to learn his trade.
It's going to be a huge ask for him to make the same immediate impact that he made in the Championship.
Mentally I think he's ready but now we will find out how good he actually is.
There is an expectation on his shoulders which was always bound to happen, after, all, you don't get nominated for Young Player of the Year if you don't have something about you.
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But his entry into the teams of the year for both 2016-17 and 2017-18 are somewhat misguided as he's listed as the left-back.
Most Fulham fans will tell you, that's very wide off the mark even if he has played there on several occasions.
Ryan needs time to find his feet in the Premier League and would be wasted as a fullback.
Defensively he has a lot to learn but that's to be expected for someone so young.
His strengths come when he's in the oppositions box, a natural finisher and the type of player who only needs one chance to score with incredible timing.
Sessegnon will score goals in the Premier League and his biggest challenge is handling the bubble that surrounds this division and the demand put on him by pundits.
I envisage him scoring close to double figures next season because he will always find the back of the net.
It's impossible not to laud over the talent Ryan clearly has, but he will need all his maturity and support from those around him not to get sucked into the money and fame.
What makes him so lovable and someone to be proud of is his levelheadedness... if he continues along that path, he will go onto be a very special player.