Tahith Chong is making a big impact on loan at Birmingham City.
The Manchester United youngster was applauded off by Luton supporters at the weekend after leading a 5-0 win against their team.
Chong provided an assist in the victory and his performance followed up two previously very impressive displays.
Manager Lee Bowyer is thrilled by the impact Chong is making, and believes he can get a lot better.
Bowyer told the club website: “He glides past people with ease! It is beautiful for me to watch and for supporters – whether he’s on your team or not. He’s a talented boy and he’s learning, the first 20 minutes I felt he let them off the hook a bit.
“Then second-half I told him to be more attack-minded and go past one, go past two. It is just recognising when to pass, when to dribble and when to shoot, and that is why he is here on loan with us because he will learn.”
Very impressed
Bowyer added he did not expect Chong to be quite as good as he has been already, and credits his attitude as key to his early strong form.
He said: “I knew he was a good player but I would have to say he has surprised me. But as good as he is in possession, his work rate out of possession is outstanding.
“For a young lad to buy into that, he has just done it no problem. Whatever you ask him to do he’ll do it.
“He’s low maintenance, has a great attitude, wants to improve, excite people and I just want him to score a goal because his performances since he has been here deserved one.”
Bowyer had Dylan Levitt on loan at Charlton last season and the move did not work out well for either party.
So there would have been some skepticism on his part about adding another United loanee, that it could be hit or miss, and perhaps even on United’s part whether Bowyer would trust Chong and stick with him.
Early on the loan move has been inspired, and everybody is better for it. Birmingham are looking like they may be play-off contenders this season and Chong is showing he might have a chance of fulfilling his potential.
It is important to remember not all players develop at the same pace, and Chong also suffered a serious ACL injury in his early years in United’s academy.
He frequently looked like a good player for United’s under-23s and while it has taken him a while to flourish at first team level at United and on his previous two loans, he has found an environment in which he feels comfortable and is letting his football do the talking, while his manager sing his praises..
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