Matt Ritchie is now a £12m Premier League regular at Newcastle United but can Southampton reject Lloyd Isgrove return to that level eventually?
Lloyd Isgrove is earning comparisons with Matt Ritchie at Swindon Town with first-team coach Tommy Wright hinting that the winger has the quality to return to a much higher level, as reported by the Swindon Advertiser.
So the question is simple; is he finally starting to fulfil the potential that made him stand out as one of the most exciting young talents in the Southampton academy?
It might be too early to say but, on current form, Isgrove is doing his best to send a message to the club who released him after just eight first-team appearances.
Since joining Swindon in the summer, the one-time Wales international has produced four assists in just six League Two games with some tipping him to replicate the success of Ritchie by winning the League Two title with The Robins.
Ritchie has gone from strength to strength since that two year spell with Swindon between 2011 and 2013 and is now a regular fixture in the Premier League for a Newcastle United side who paid £12 million for his services, as reported by the Telegraph.
And Swindon coach Wright is hopeful that Isgrove can make a similar impact in Wiltshire.
“He has been popular since he came to the club. The fans like him,” Wright said. “Someone said he is like Matt Ritchie when he was here with that busy style – and look what he has gone on to do.
“You have got to remember that Lloyd has played at a higher level. He scored in the play-off final at Barnsley when I was there, and he has played for Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday. He is a very good player.”
At 26, it is not too late for Isgrove to prove that he deserves a second chance in the Championship or perhaps even the Premier League. After all, Ritchie was no fresh-faced teenager when he was handed his big break by Bournemouth.
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