Ian Wright has claimed that he has been waiting for ‘many, many years’ for Tottenham Hotspur defender Ryan Sessegnon to perform, as he told his own podcast.
The legendary striker added that he is ‘pleased’ Sessegnon got on the scoresheet for Antonio Conte’s side on Saturday, as Spurs beat Southampton 4-1 on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.
Back in 2019, with Mauricio Pochettino in the north London dugout, the club secured the services of the then-19-year-old Sessegnon from Fulham.
The now-22-year-old came through at a very young age from Fulham’s academy, playing regular football in the Championship at such a tender age of just 16.
Understandably so, a lot was expected of him and he was seen as the next wonderkid coming through in England, with Spurs watching him for many years, before securing his signature.
Wright thinks it ‘still hasn’t taken off for him’ at Hotspur Way, but he feels, under Conte’s stewardship, things are now starting to change for Sessegnon.
“He needed that (goal),” said Wright. “I was pleased for Ryan Sessegnon. I think he made his debut at 15, he might have turned 16 (for Fulham).
“We have been waiting for Ryan to do his stuff for many, many years. When he got to Tottenham finally, you think ‘here we go, let’s see what he does’. And it still hasn’t taken off for him.
“But we saw some green shoots last season. Him playing there and getting the opportunity to continue to play there under Conte. You know what Conte is like. As he did with Victor Moses, he will give you the birth if you are ready to go.
“Seeing him score that goal, and then him coming out and saying ‘I need to do a lot more of that’. He himself realises that there are people in this team, if I am not asserting myself and doing that, then I am going to lose my place.”
SESSEGNON A FUTURE ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL
The biggest obstacle Sessegnon has faced at Tottenham is trying to earn regular minutes, with constant injuries disrupting his progression.
Emerson Royal joined the club last summer, and since then, he has made 42 appearances in all competitions, to put that into context, Sessegnon joined in 2019 and only has 34 games to his name.
That’s a lot of football the versatile player has missed, but since Conte arrived, he has played on a more consistent basis and he will be hoping all of that continues this season.
If that’s the case, then Conte will transform him into one of the best wing-backs in the Premier League.
And whilst a possible England call ahead of the 2022 World Cup is unlikely, there is every chance, during these coming years, he will be a regular for his country.
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