Patrick Bamford admits he was absolutely blown away by £14m Leicester player last season.
Leicester City defeated Southampton 3-2 on the weekend in a dramatic encounter on the South Coast. Leicester came back from two goals behind to pick up their second successive win – moving up to 14th place.
Steve Cooper’s side showed their attacking quality in the second period and one man in particular stood out.
In fact, speaking with Conor Coady post-match, Leeds striker Patrick Bamford admitted he was so impressed with him last year, too.
Patrick Bamford says Abdul Fatawu stuck out by a mile last season
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Coady and Bamford reflected on Abdul Fatawu’s sensational performance against Southampton and the Leeds frontman admitted his talent stuck out by a mile last season.
Coady: “Abdul coming on was absolutely sensational. He’s one of the nicest kids you will ever meet in your life.”
Bamford: “Yeah I just want to know what it’s like with him because obviously playing against him last year, you had Stephy (Mavididi) on one wing and him on the other and he stuck out by a mile, Abdul.
“I thought wow. He’s only young as well, he was 18-years-old last year, 19.”
Coady: Yeah no he was. And having him and Stephy Mavididi, listen, the pair of them are absolute flyers.
“They get the ball and they’re direct and they run at you and for a full-back, we said yesterday actually watching the game when Abdul came on, you didn’t want to be a full-back being against him.”
Conor Coady reveals Fatawu was frustrated at not starting
Coady added that Fatawu, who cost City £14m this summer, was chomping at the bit on the bench before coming on just before the hour mark.
“He had the bit between his teeth and it’s one of them where, you know as a player when you don’t play, you have that little bit of a thing anyway don’t you – when I come on, I need to impress and I need to do well.
“And he certainly had that. He said to me early on in the game, ‘I want to come on early here, Coads.’ That’s what he said to me early on in the game and I said ‘I don’t mind it, mate. Let’s get you on.’
“And he was absolutely fantastic, every time he got it, he was direct against Charlie Taylor. He was running at him and they brought Charlie Taylor on, listen he’s a great full-back, but when Abdul’s in that mood and when he’s running at you, it’s so tough for any full-back and he was brilliant when he came on.”
Leicester now have a pretty decent run of fixtures with East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest up next on Friday evening.
Cooper’s side will have the onus on them to attack the game against Forest – so Fatawu absolutely has to start with Stephy Mavididi on the other flank.
