Goalscorers are arguably the most valuable currency in football and Coventry City Under-18s coach Jason Farndon is convinced his side have one of the best around in Bassala Sambou.
And, as they prepare to face Charlton Athletic in the fourth round on Monday, Farndon feels the talented marksman can keep their FA Youth Cup dreams on track.
Sambou has scored every one of Coventry’s seven goals in this year’s competition – enabling the Sky Blues to hammer Walsall 4-1 in the first round, see off Crewe Alexandra 2-0 in round two and deservedly shock Stoke City 1-0 last time out.
Coventry City v Charlton Athletic
The FA Youth Cup
Fourth Round Proper
7pm, Monday 25 January 2016
Steel Park, Corby Town FC
By Luke Baker
So impressive was the 18-year-old’s display against Walsall back in November that he earned a first-team debut just three days later, coming off the bench in The Emirates FA Cup as Coventry lost 2-1 to Northampton.
Sambou is also a regular in his club’s Under-21s team and Farndon believes all this experience of a higher level will pay dividends against Charlton.
"Everybody is looking for a goalscorer and Bass has found some form," said Farndon. "He plays in the Under-21s on a week-to-week basis and then comes back for The FA Youth Cup games.
"He’s bringing that experience from the U21s back to the team, not to mention that his goals in The FA Youth Cup earned him a first-team debut and he got himself a squad number.
"He scored four goals against Walsall in The Youth Cup and then comes off the bench for the first team in The FA Cup against Northampton. It was a week of FA Cup for him!
"That was brilliant for him and, under the lights, you get a lot of first-team managers watching The FA Youth Cup. The lads know they have a chance to impress the first-team managers and coaches."
For their part, Charlton battled past local rivals Millwall in the third round – drawing 1-1 after extra-time before emerging 4-2 winners on penalties with Taylor Maloney slotting the crucial spot-kick.
The Addicks have some history in The FA Youth Cup over the past few years, reaching the fifth round two seasons ago and the quarter-finals back in the 2011-12 campaign.
With a glamour tie against Arsenal in round five awaiting the winners of Monday evening’s clash at Steel Park, both they and Coventry will be desperate to advance.
And Farndon insists there is little to choose between the clubs, setting things up for a fascinating encounter.
"You look at it and it’s probably an even game. They are at the top of the southern division while we’re near the top of the northern division," explained Farndon.
"It should be a really good game – they’ll know what to expect for us and I don’t see there being an underdog or a favourite.
"They’re probably a bit more athletic than us but I’d suggest maybe we play a little bit more – it should be an exciting game.
"There’s the carrot of playing Arsenal at the end of it and everyone wants to play one of the big ones.
"We’re probably not going to win The FA Youth Cup because the gulf is quite wide now, so playing a team like Arsenal would be like a cup final for us."
