Could Emile Smith Rowe and Josh King forge a mutually beneficial relationship?

The emergence of our academy grad as a first-team cog could boost our record-signing.

With no new players to get excited about, my summer has been one of self reflection. Not around personal improvement - there’s no beach body on the way for Dan Cooke, but rather an audit of where this familiar-faced Fulham side is at.

There are two names that I keep going back to, who really feel like the story of this pre-season; Emile Smith Rowe and Josh King.

This summer, and oncoming season, seems set up for both players to hit new heights at the club, albeit from wildly different starting points.

Contrasting Fulham careers

If you picture Emile’s career on a line graph, last year felt very much like the nadir. A player who seemingly had no critics, freed from the substitute’s bench in North London, was tipped by pretty much everyone to be an instant success at the Cottage. It didn’t happen.

There were many theories for his poor, or sometimes just instantly forgettable, performances, but one sentiment endured: second season Smith Rowe would be a totally different player. Pre-season has started to show that this may well play out.

Josh King however is yet to have a professional low point; he’s been on an upward curve since birth. Storming through the youth ranks, we’d heard he was special but his first-team appearances last season turned these rumours into fact. Every time he played he produced noteworthy performances, leaving many questioning whether it should be him not Smith Rowe tasked with being our creative force.

Performances in Portugal suggest that the decision needn’t be binary. I think we’re starting to see the green shoots that signify not just a positive season for the two of them, but the forming of a mutual beneficial relationship.

Smith Rowe’s mojo

I thought the most disappointing aspect of Emile’s performances last season was the lack of zing. There was little in the way of flair, spark, pizzazz. He was too quick to take the safe option, focusing on minimising mistakes rather than maximising impact.

He’s been on a turbulent journey and I can understand his lack of confidence and reluctance to take risks. However, unless he battles those demons and rediscovers his spark, his footballing peak will remain in the past.

Enter Josh King. Our academy product deliciously balances on the precipice of confidence and arrogance. You can see his internal monologue when he steps onto a Premier League pitch, a mantra of “I am good enough. I belong here”.

Not once did the pressure of the occasion prevent him from taking the course of action that he deemed best. Those actions are unerringly positive and forward-thinking, the instincts of a natural attacking midfielder. They’re also instincts that used to be innate to Smith Rowe, before things got tough.

In Josh King, our record signing has a living example of the player he used to be. Watching our wonderkid get bums off seats every time he gets the ball has got to stir something in Emile, it has to make him want to rediscover that effervescence he had when he was breaking through into the Arsenal team.

If he wants to add to his three England caps he needs to find football fun again. Weirdly, I think someone six years his junior might be able to help that happen.

Football isn’t all sunshine and rainbows

As mentioned, Josh King has not had many low points in his fledgling career, but he will one day. Unfortunately on the horizon are injuries, poor form, times when the pressure weighs too heavy. You can’t stop it, so you’ve got to manage it.

There are plenty of experienced heads in that dressing room who can offer advice and support but none feel better placed than Smith Rowe. He’s experienced all of those lows alongside some huge highs. Debuting as a teenager, England caps, Champions League football - he knows what it’s like to have tens of thousands of people put their hopes in you before you could even legally drink in some countries.

He is a ready made mentor for someone who is so similar to the person he was seven years ago. He knows everything that he’s experiencing, and more, and I think is exactly the right person to put an arm round King and guide him through what is going to be the biggest year of his career so far.

Two’s a crowd

There is only space for one number 10 in any starting XI and that spot is likely Emile’s at the start of this season, for as long as he merits it. Josh King will have to bide his time; he’s unlikely to be on the pitch when we kick off on the south coast next week, but he’ll certainly be primed to come off the bench, and Emile will know that.

It’s the perfect example of healthy competition. Two players who have the opportunity to thrive off each other while battling it out for the same position. It benefits them both, and therefore, Fulham. We lacked a bit of spark last season, but these two have the talent and the tools to produce fireworks in this one.