Coventry City boss Aidy Boothroyd has claimed than Danny Ward, who has signed from Bolton on loan until January, could be a better player than England's rising star Adam Johnson.
The exciting 18 year old winger look likely to go straight in the Sky Blues side to face Leicester tomorrow lunchtime.
When Boothroyd became manager of Coventry City he immediately preempted his critics who claim he a long ball advocate, by saying he wanted to develop a team capable of attacking from the back and down the flanks. The signing of Ward,albeit on a short loan, is another step toward achieving those aims.
"Danny will be with us from today and will come straight into the squad," said Boothroyd to the CT. "People will see his qualities soon enough."
"He is very quick, he's a dribbler and both footed and he scored nine goals last year and made something like 12 or 13, so he is a very attack-minded player who can go past people and draw others out of position. He is young, fresh and hungry and works his socks off so he fits the bill."
"I saw him playing for Swindon last year when he was superb and he will add to the squad and also get other people on their toes, so he adds competition and depth."
Ward was at the target of most of the Championship clubs when Bolton manager Owen Coyle said he could go on loan, but Coventry were the lucky club. When asked why Ward chose Coventry, Boothroyd said, "I know Owen Coyle very well and it also happens that Danny is from the same part of Bradford as me, so I can understand him, but the fact that Adam Johnson and Ashley Young did so well for me on loan at Watford may have had a bearing."
"Adam looked as if he had been served with an ASBO when he first came to the club but ended up being a phenomenal footballer who we all saw on Tuesday night, and I think that Danny, without putting too much pressure on him, reminds me a lot of him, although he is a bigger physical specimen and, perhaps, could be a better player."