Koby Mottoh made his first team debut for the Portsmouth first team in the EFL Trophy becoming one of the youngest players ever to play for Pompey.
Formerly of the Arsenal academy, he played the full 90 minutes in a 3-3 draw to Fulham Under 21s.
He was last season’s top scorer in the academy and has continued his form into this season, scoring two and assisting four. All in just two games.
This top form earning him a first team call up.
The winger’s performance in the EFL Trophy has been heavily praised by lead professional development coach, Sam Hudson.
What has Sam Hudson said about Koby Mottoh?
“I thought Koby did really well.”
It was clear that Hudson was proud to see one of Pompey’s youth products starting and doing well for the first team.
There was a factor that the coach picked up on which he liked to see.
Mottoh was utilised on both wings throughout the game: “It was interesting he was used on both flanks in the game.
“That’s a real challenge for any player and it’s also good to see the things we’ve been working on in training with his timing of runs off both sides of the pitch are starting to pay off.”
The winger is said to be the second youngest scholar in the country and in spite of his youth, he is slotting into the first team with ease.
Discussing his form for the youth team Hudson said: “We played Forest Green in the first league game and the left-back couldn’t handle him.
“Then he scored twice and got one assist against Exeter.”
Three assists in the first game, creating four goals and an assist is unbelievable.
This form pushed him up through the ranks and into the first eleven.
This pleased Hudson: “We have dialogue every game with the first-team and relayed how pleased we are with his progress – and he managed to force himself into Tuesday night’s starting line-up.”
It is great to see a pathway for young players to make their way through the ranks, with Mottoh being an exciting example of this.