Andy King isn’t one for hyperbole, with his opinions often as steady as his performances, but the Bristol City midfielder believes Antoine Semenyo is “the best player in the Championship” and that Alex Scott is at a more developed stage than two proven Premier League performers were at his age.
City resume their Championship campaign on Saturday against Rotherham United after a 28-day break since their 0-0 with Watford at Ashton Gate and will have a World Cup performer in their squad following Semenyo’s turn for Ghana in Qatar.
The 22-year-old made two substitute appearances, against Portugal and Uruguay, and came close to scoring in both games but unfortunately the Black Stars were unable to qualify from their group and Semenyo rejoined his teammates at the High Performance Centre this week.
Given the travel and his need to slightly re-acclimatise, having been away with his national team since November 14, it seems unlikely that Semenyo will start at the New York Stadium. There is also the fact that the former SGS College pupil hasn’t reached his expected levels since a flurry of goals at the start of the campaign where he was used as an impact substitute by Nige Pearson as he recovered from a shin injury.
Since his goal against Norwich City on September 14, Semenyo has been scoreless in his last 13 games, and while his disrupted pre-season has been a factor, as has the form of Tommy Conway and Nahki Wells, restricting his starts, he’s yet to mirror his breakout goalscoring campaign of 2022/23. But based on King’s view of his teammate, that will be addressed sooner, rather than later.
“For me, and I say this to everyone, and I don’t know if Bristol City fans will want to hear this but - best player in the Championship, on his day,” King said.
“And that’s the key with Ants. From his point of view, he’s not hit the heights he would have hoped for this season after he missed a bit of pre-season; at the start of the season TC and Nahki were doing brilliantly, so he’s found it hard to get back in. But on his day, best day in the Championship and fully deserved his place at the World Cup and it’s an unbelievable achievement.
“I messaged him before he went and just said, ‘soak up every minute’. I’ve had the experience of playing in a tournament, it’s one I’ll never forget and you don’t want it to pass you by. I hope he did.
“The fact he played as well, was really good, because you can go to a World Cup and say you were involved but the fact he got some minutes, got on and did well is brilliant and what he deserved. And the club should be very proud of themselves for producing a player who’s gone on to play in a World Cup.”
Unlike Semenyo, Scott is guaranteed to start in Yorkshire as only Zak Vyner and Jay Dasilva have played more league minutes than the midfielder who in just over 12 months has become a near-indispensable player for the Robins.
Still only 19, Scott’s technical ability is matched by his maturity, professionalism and high-level football IQ which has enabled him to resemble a player several years advanced in age, in his consistency and how at home he looks in the Championship.
Having been at Leicester City when Ben Chilwell and Harvey Barnes were emerging through the academy, King claims Scott’s development is further along the line than the now-Chelsea and England left-back and Foxes star, who are regular Premier League starters.
King is especially close to Scott and striker Conway, as emphasised by the "Day in the Life Of..." video City released this week, with the veteran admitting their presence and banter helping him feel young.
“I think I went on record last year and said that he was probably the best 17-year-old I have played with,” King added. “When you look at some of the players who I’ve had the privilege of playing with, you look at Ben Chilwell, Harvey Barnes, people like that who have gone on to play for England, I saw them at 17/18 and I think certainly, at 17, Scotty was ahead of those.
“He can go as far as he wants because he’s got a mature head on his shoulders and all the talent in the world.
“What will stand him in the best stead is that he is willing to learn, and he will listen, not just with me but with anyone who gives him information, he knows you’re just trying to help and that will take you a long way.”
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