Further to yesterday’s interview with Egil Olsen and Per Joar Hansen, Dagbladet have again run a piece on Joshua King this time it is centered more on him as player and what the future holds for him at club level.
Whilst Olsen said that even out of the first team picture at Old Trafford, King has a bright future at international level, his u21 manager Hansen is a little more concerned and has even suggested that King look elsewhere for first team football.
King is currently in the u21 team at Old Trafford but with United blessed with a wealth of attacking talent, his prospects of breaking into the first team don’t look great and Hansen feels King should look for a club willing to take a risk on him:
“The most important thing for Josh right now is to find himself a club where he’ll get to play and feel valued.
“Right now he’s in one of the very best clubs in the world, fighting for a spot amongst world class players, so it’s obvious that he’s fighting an uphill battle for a spot in the first team.
“I’ve recommended that he finds himself a new club who are willing to take a risk on him, and give him a lot of game time.
“He’s got all the qualities needed to become an important player for the Norwegian senior team.”
This is only a suggestion though and Hansen has given no indication that King agrees:
“He finds himself in a tough situation at the moment.
“He needs to be a little selfish and consider where he feels he’ll develop the most, which means that he’s next choice will be extremely important.
“We’ll just have to wait and see if it’ll happen in this transfer window or the next one.
“I’m just here to consult him if he chooses to talk to me about the situation.”
Hansen feels King is ready for the rigours of first team football having cut his teeth in the Championship and proved himself above reserve level football. As mentioned yesterday the compliment paid to him by the Austrian u21 right back has firmly convinced Hansen that King is on his way:
“It’s not everyday you hear compliments like that.
“Josh has played in the Championship which is a tough league with big, strong players and he coped very well. He’s also proven that he’s a cut above the rest at reserve team level.
“His next challenge will be to prove that he’s able to make the step up.
“He has to think about where that step might be, and I really hope that he’ll pick a club with a coach who’s able to utilize his main attributes.”
Whilst Hansen wants King playing first team football, he is wary of another loan move for the youngster:
“When you’re being loaned out, you usually end up being at the end of the line. The coach would rather play a player who has been bought, with a long term contract. That’s the danger when going out on loan.”
King has already endured a tough loan spell in Germany although injury played a large part in that not turning out well:
“It’s like driving a Ferrari on a Norwegian mountain road, some damage is impossible to avoid.
“I think that should be one of the things Josh has to consider when moving to another club as well; that he’s able to get full attention from the medical staff where they are making sure he’s staying fit at all times.”
I guess, it comes down to 78367 simple choice!