Neil Harris has singled out Arsena loanee Jordi Osei-Tutu for praise – but also admitted that the player had ‘a lot to learn’.
The 22-year-old defender was one of Cardiff City’s better players on Saturday as Harris’s side drew 0-0 away to Blackburn Rovers.
Osei-Tutu, a full-back, returned to Arsenal during the summer after his loan with German side Bochum expired.
There were even suggestions at the time that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta could keep him in the senior side this season rather than farm him out again, such was the impact he made in Germany.
But he’s with the Bluebirds now and although Harris concedes that the player is far from the finished article, he says he’s happy with the young defender.
He said via Wales Online: “I thought Jordi, not just his quality on the ball, but his defensive mindset as well. We worked hard on it in the last few weeks, he is a young lad with a lot to learn.”
If he impresses and knuckles down, there’s space for Osei-Tutu to make it at Arsenal.
That’s because Hector Bellerin’s understudy is former Southampton man Cedric Soares, who they signed on a permanent basis during the summer.
But with Soares being 31, and Bellerin being linked with a move away fairly regularly, Arsenal might be needing right-backs from next summer onward and it’ll be fascinating if the City loanee can stake a claim long term.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
