‘Oh my’ – Micah Richards and Gary Lineker wowed by Fulham star, ‘what a talent’
Fulham lost 3-1 to Aston Villa despite taking the lead in the third minute before Unai Emery’s men staged an unlikely comeback.
Despite scoring a brilliant goal, Ollie Watkins was poor against Fulham and will need to improve to help his team continue their climb from the foot of the Premier League table.
After full time, Unai Emery shared an injury update on Tyrone Mings after the 32-year-old was taken off in the 32nd minute, but the substitution didn’t negatively impact the result as Aston Villa secured their first league win of the campaign.
Fulham should have been awarded a first-half penalty, but the referee waved play on even after Josh King‘s goalbound strike collided with Matty Cash’s arm.
Micah Richards and Gary Lineker react to Josh King’s display
Despite being just 18, King was simply superb for the 65 minutes he was on the pitch, even if Villa ran out 3-1 winners. The teenager’s mixture of pace, aggression and undeniable quality made him a serious threat.
Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Micah Richards and Gary Lineker were effusive in their praise for King.
Micah Richards said: “Josh King. Oh my, what a talent he is.“
Gary Lineker replied, saying: “I went to the Fulham game when they played Manchester United a few weeks ago and I thought this kid can play.”
Josh King’s display vs Aston Villa was special
Jamie Recknapp praised Josh King’s performance against Villa as well, saying he was the best player on the pitch – high praise for an 18-year-old indeed.
Redknapp said: “Josh King has been the best player on the pitch by a mile. He’s been so good, his movement, his skills, his passing forward, he’s been magnificent.”
The numbers support the hype in the media and online, too. It’s very clear that Fulham have a wonderful player on their hands.
| Minutes played | 65 |
| Touches | 25 |
| Accurate passes | 9/9 (100%) |
| Key passes | 1 |
| Shots on target | 2 |
| Dribble attempts (successful) | 3 (3) |
| Ground duels (won) | 7 (4) |
| Aerial duels (won) | 2 (1) |
Marco Silva needs to look after King and ensure he’s protected. Talented as he is, the Premier League is an unforgiving place for any footballer, regardless of age. If Fulham take care of him, however, they will be rewarded greatly.