Josh King has to play crucial first-team role next season

In the last game of the season, owing to potential departures and the lack of importance of the match, Marco Silva reshuffled the pack, giving starts to players including Jorge Cuenca and Tom Cairney. However one decision he made that was consistent with these last few weeks of the season, was giving young midfielder Josh King an opportunity to impress off the bench. In those substitute appearances, King showed a level of flair and maturity that has led many Fulham fans to believe he should play a part in the team more frequently next season.

King’s cameos

Josh King has played 11 times for the first team this season, accumulating a total of 262 minutes. The youngster’s only start in the league came at home against Southampton, however he has recently made appearances against Everton, Brentford and Manchester City. The youngster linked up well with academy compatriot Martial Godo, showing a level of freedom beyond his years as we chased a comeback against the Toffees, before playing a part in the comeback against Brentford as well as showing maturity in game management, holding onto the ball with skipper Tom Cairney, and having good moments and passes against a Manchester City side chasing the Champions League.

How will King play a part?

King’s preferred position, or Silva’s preferred position for him, is in the attacking midfield role. This comes with competition with the likes of Andreas Pereira and Emile Smith Rowe also targeting that berth. Pereira has been a lynchpin and a notable name on the team sheet since promotion to the Premier League, and Smith Rowe, although underwhelming, represents a signing of massive value and a signing that must have an impressive season next season.

Therefore, in order to ward off such competition, King’s energy and quality must either provoke the phasing out of Andreas Pereira and his role within the team, or force Emile Smith Rowe to provide more from the bench next season, should Smith Rowe not become more consistent with his game. There is also an opportunity for King to fill the role of Tom Cairney, should Cairney mark the end of his long journey with the club, however it remains to be seen if the midfielder can adapt his game to be a box-to-box midfielder in the Premier League for a long period of time.

Although Marco Silva has a record of not providing younger players with a significant number of minutes, it seems that Josh King’s next phase of development has to come with more minutes in the first team next season. The role that King plays, whether it be in attacking midfield, or central midfield, may force a big change for a more senior member of the team, however that may be necessary should the young talent stay with the club.