The highest praise anyone can offer Rio Ngumoha is that he truly challenges Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo for their places.
He already gave a glimpse of this potential with a dramatic last-gasp winner against Newcastle United early in the season, but his 15-minute substitute appearance in the 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest turned quiet whispers into something that deserved to be shouted from the rooftops.
During that cameo, he completely unsettled the Forest defence with a dangerous, looping cross into the penalty area, which ultimately led to Alexis Mac Allister firing in another crucial late winner. At this stage, Ngumoha’s senior career – both at club level and internationally – remains in its infancy, with the 17-year-old still receiving only limited first-team minutes.
Even so, it’s entirely reasonable to say that the ceiling is extraordinarily high for this dynamic, all-action winger, who is already widely viewed as one of the finest English teenagers in football.
