Exciting talent has qualities to go far

CARDIFF City were outclassed by Sheffield United in last weekend’s 4-1 defeat at Bramall Lane – with one notable exception.

- Chris Dunlavy

Jaden Philogene may not have troubled the scoresheet, but the 21-year-old was inventive, skilful and dynamic off the right side, easily evading wing-back Max Lowe and repeatedly trying his luck from range.

To Bluebirds fans, his performance was no surprise. Over the course of a largely lifeless season for Cardiff, the Aston Villa loanee has consistently entertained and will return to the Premier League club a man in demand.

Tentative offers from RC Lens, Anderlecht and Union Berlin have already been received. A host of Championship clubs will offer 12-month stays next term.

That, too, is nothing new. As a rising star of Villa’s youth side alongside Cameron Archer and Jacob Ramsey, Philogene was watched by Man City and Arsenal, with Dutch giants Ajax also keeping tabs.

Yet his route to the top was fraught. At 16, Philogene was released when Brentford’s academy folded and suffered rejection at the hands of various clubs around London.

Disillusioned, he effectively quit the game before being rescued by the Pro:Direct Academy, a network of teams set up to provide players like Philogene with professional-standard coaching and a platform to impress elite sides.

It worked. Villa signed him in January 2018 and within three years had handed the teenager a Premier League debut.