Paddy McCarthy Impressed by 19-Year-Old Franco Umeh’s Performance in Crystal Palace Training Under Oliver Glasner
2 min read
Oliver Glasner has already conducted several training sessions at Crystal Palace alongside Paddy McCarthy, and one player who caught the eye during these sessions was Franco Umeh.
During a recent training session at Copers Cope in Beckenham, praise for the 19-year-old Franco Umeh could be heard in the background as Crystal Palace released footage from Glasner’s first training session at the club. Let’s delve into what Umeh did to impress Paddy McCarthy:
Franco Umeh’s Impressive Performance: Franco Umeh, a Republic of Ireland U19 international, has been on the fringes of the first team lately and has been a regular participant in training sessions.
In a drill at Copers Cope, Umeh showcased his brilliant turn of pace and impressive strength as he took on Matheus Franca and David Ozoh. Umeh breezed past Franca with a drop of the shoulder and proceeded to slot a fine finish beyond Remi Matthews, as seen around the 9:27 mark of Crystal Palace’s video.
In the background, Paddy McCarthy could be heard shouting, “Good Franco, well played son,” indicating his admiration for Umeh’s efforts. Glasner, who was also watching from the sideline, was surely impressed by Umeh’s performance as well.
Potential Under Oliver Glasner: In our view, Umeh could become a valuable option under Glasner’s management. He has demonstrated versatility by operating on either flank, making appearances on both the right and left sides this season.
Umeh’s efficiency in both roles is noteworthy, and his goal-scoring record in Premier League 2 is impressive, with six goals in just 11 outings this season, along with one assist.
Considering Glasner’s preference for two inverted forwards playing off a target man, Umeh’s versatility and goal-scoring ability make him a candidate for debut under the Austrian in one of these positions if he continues to impress in training.
