Tottenham's Ryan Sessegnon has insisted that he will stay 'calm and positive' despite seeing youngsters he played with at the European Under-21 Championships thriving, while he has also revealed his role models.
The youngster burst onto the scene at Fulham during the 2016/17 campaign, becoming the youngest player to score in the Championship. He went on to win the EFL's Championship Player of the Season award in 2017/18 aged just 17, as he helped his side secure promotion to the Premier League.
Sessegnon secured a summer move to Tottenham after Fulham were relegated, but has started just four league games so far, only managing 11 appearances in all competitions.
The likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and James Maddison have all thrived this season, and while Sessegnon has made a slow start to life at Tottenham, he has explained that he believes everything happens for a reason.
“It’s been good for Tammy and Mason," he told the Mirror. "They are doing very well and I’m happy for them.
“So I’m going to stay calm and positive. I’m going to try not to put too much pressure on myself as I’ve done before.”
The Englishman further opened up on the pressure placed on him after breaking through at Fulham at such a young age, adding: "
“The spotlight was on me because purely because of my age.
“But I would say I was mentally strong. Mature for my age as well. That’s down to my upbringing, My parents always taught me to stay positive, calm.
Sessegnon went on to explain the impact Dele Alli has had since his move, and why Ashley Cole, Gareth Bale and Luke Shaw are his role models.
"He [Dele] was young when he came to Spurs as well. He was chucked into a team and did very, very well. So it just makes sense for him to help me out. I appreciate everything he has done.
"You saw the way he [Ashley Cole] played at Arsenal and at Chelsea.
"Luke is not that much older than me. But I love the way he burst on the scene of Southampton as an attacking fullback. That’s the way I like to play as well.
Source : 90min