Praise for Rak-Sakyi's potential

The Arhletic profiles Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.   Even leading moaners at The Valley have found it hard to say something negative about him.

The 19-year-old’s impact at The Valley has been so impressive that after a handful of appearances he is the centre-fold of the programme. His links with Palace, from whom he is on a season-long loan, are almost forgotten.

Almost, but not quite. Towards the end of the first half, a cross came in and Rak-Sakyi powered a header towards goal which Luke McGee pushed away. Then it came: “Jes Rak-Sakyi is a red, he hates Palace,” sang the home supporters.

“He’s very level-headed but in a self-confident way,” Charlton manager Ben Garner said. “He’s not rash or arrogant; he’s a quiet, unassuming lad who mixes well with the other players but has that inner steel and self-confidence which is so important for attacking players.

“He takes everything in his stride and has adapted very quickly to the challenges and physical demands of the game.”

Against Forest Green, the forward, released by Chelsea in 2019 as a 16-year-old without a scholarship — “the only thing I’d ever known” — was relatively quiet. But he still posed a threat. His confidence and talent were obvious. Any concerns over the physicality of the league have been banished, despite his wiry frame.

Early on, he had the beating of left-back Corey O’Keeffe almost every time. A shift of bodyweight, a darting run down the flank and a cut inside to find a team-mate or take a shot. It all seemed so natural.

In the first half, he darted beyond three players into the penalty area but went down easily, with a free kick awarded against him. In the second half, he again shimmied beyond several opponents and into a dangerous position, but his shot was a wild hack over the bar.

This was not his best performance. The decision-making is not quite there — but his potential showed.

 It is Rak-Sakyi’s dynamic movement, the ability to escape difficult situations and the close control in his dribbling that has endeared him to Charlton fans so quickly.

“Every time he’s played for us he looks like creating or scoring,” Garner added. “If he keeps working on his technique and understanding of certain situations, he will score more goals.”