Portsmouth Boss: Miguel Azeez Can Have A Great Career

Dan Cowley believes the sky’s the limit for Miguel Azeez…

Portsmouth boss Dan Cowley has heaped praise on Arsenal youngster Miguel Azeez and predicted a bright future for the 19-year-old, Sky Sports reports.

Azeez is currently in the middle of a season-long loan at the south coast club and after enduring a difficult start, is now heavily involved with the first team.

The Hale End graduate has started the last three games for Pompey, completing the 90 minutes in the latter two as he gets accustomed to senior football.

The England U20 international has long been heralded as the next gem to emerge from the famed Arsenal academy, and this loan move could prove pivotal.

Arsenal’s hierarchy were comfortable with sending Azeez to Fratton Park due to the presence of Cowley, who did wonders with Emile Smith Rowe during the playmaker’s loan spell at Huddersfield in 2020.

Now, with Azeez becoming a mainstay in the Portsmouth side, Cowley believes the sky’s the limit for the cultured midfielder.

“For Miguel, it’s his first loan. He is gaining experience by the day and it’s been a brilliant stepping stone for him in his education,” the Pompey boss told Sky Sports.

“His technical ability and his athleticism will give him every opportunity to have a great career.

 “He’s done really, really well. He’s another one who is incredibly driven, with an outstanding level of focus and he’s a student of the game.

“He always wants to learn, develop and improve. He’s fought his way into the team, and good on him,” Cowley added.

It’s very hard to predict the trajectory at which a talented player develops, with each player taking on a different path. With the likes of Bukayo Saka, no loan move was needed as he moved straight into the first team.

The aforementioned Smith Rowe needed a few loan spells – including one torrid one at RB-Leipzig – before he grew into the player we see now.

For Azeez, however long it takes, only a quick glance is needed to see that there’s a gifted player in there.