Favour Fawunmi departs West Ham and makes instant senior debut for Stoke City.
Mark Robins has praised the fearless attitude of Favour Fawunmi after handing the teenager an immediate Stoke City senior debut.
Fawunmi had been on Stoke’s radar since the summer, but he remained at West Ham until the end of January. Once available, Stoke moved quickly, bringing him to Clayton Wood for a trial game in front of Robins and Jon Walters.
The 18-year-old winger impressed instantly, earning a contract offer on the spot. He signed on Friday and made his first-team debut the following day, coming off the bench in Stoke’s FA Cup fourth-round clash against Cardiff, which ended in a penalty shootout defeat.
Robins Impressed by Fawunmi’s Talent
Robins highlighted Fawunmi’s composure and technical ability, praising his confidence despite his young age.
“Sometimes a young player comes in and shows no fear, and he certainly did that,” Robins said. “He’s got really nice feet, a good touch, and good qualities. He’s still learning, but he has a bright future.”
Having seen him in action during a trial match on Tuesday, Stoke acted swiftly to sign him by Friday morning, ensuring he was registered in time to feature in Saturday’s game. Robins saw Fawunmi’s presence as a much-needed spark for the team.
Looking Ahead
Robins acknowledged there is still plenty of work to do for the squad. Training intensity has increased in recent weeks, and the team is hoping to welcome back injured players soon.
“We need that boost, and we also need to work with them to get them to the levels they need to reach,” Robins added.
Leave a Reply