Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley is tipping Manchester City youngster Gavin Bazunu for the top and admits he will miss the Irishman when he returns to the Etihad Stadium at the end of this season. Bazunu has shone during his loan spell at Fratton Park this term.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper has made 37 appearances for the League One outfit - keeping 15 clean sheets. Beyond statistics alone, 'unbelievable' Bazunu has caught the eye with his general performances and has emerged as a first-choice pick for the Republic of Ireland national team.
It marks quite the campaign for a player who saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in September. That came in a World Cup qualifier in which the Manchester United superstar went on to score twice late on as Portugal rallied for what proved to be an important 2-1 victory.
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Speaking to HampshireLive, former Huddersfield manager Cowley drew comparisons between Bazunu and Arsenal playmaker Emile Smith Rowe - who enjoyed a loan spell with the Terriers during his tenure. However, he also admits he doesn't know how to chart Bazunu's predicted rise!
Cowley said: "He's exceptional, I have spoken about him [Bazunu] many times and I normally don't speak about the young ones, because I don't like them to get too ahead of themselves - but he's got such an unbelievable mind-set that it doesn't matter that I speak well of him because he will always want better.
"He was brilliant on Tuesday [against Bolton Wanderers] and he will stick pick faults in it and things he can do. He's sitting next door with Nicky [Cowley] and Michael Poke [goalkeeper coach] now looking at Cheltenham's build and where he can find the free man and exploit the space."
Cowley added: "He's a student of the game, he's so bright for someone so young - and I don't know whether to say the world at his feet or his hands. Emile Smith Rowe, Trevoh Chalobah, they are both playing regularly in the Premier League now. Gavin is right there.
"He's top, brilliant, I love him. I'm going to miss that kid, I'm going to really, really miss him, every single day."
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