THE SECRET SCOUT
Our scout is a top football expert who attends matches each week searching for the next star. He’ll bring you his verdict in Sportsmail.
WHAT HAS HE GOT?
SEAN O’DRISCOLL is continuing the philosophy of predecessor Dean Smith at Walsall by encouraging youth. His left back Rico Henry is an emerging talent who is getting plenty of outings at the League One summit. Henry is a local lad, 18 years old, who at first sight looks a little physically under-developed. But though he is a willowy and diminutive figure, Henry has the makings of a fine player who is more than capable of becoming a valuable wide midfielder. He has energy and good speed, which he uses both going forwards and in recovery, and his attempts to pull out wide early in the pattern of Walsall’s play means he is the ideal man for a quick counter-attack. Lively at all times, he can manipulate the ball with dexterity and has the vision to look forwards and chop the ball back inside to a team-mate. In a higher league his ability to play out from the back would be emphasised and his lovely disguised passes would be better appreciated. Henry has a range of passing but like many full backs these days he only has one striker to aim for and that can be a handicap when trying to hit the ball long. In terms of winning possession, he is tenacious in the tackle and will gain more physical strength as he matures. I like Henry’s ability to sustain his pace over longer distances — 60 to 70 yards — as well as in the 15-yard bursts. That is a real plus.
WHAT DOES HE NEED?
SOMETIMES Henry needs to sense danger a little quicker. He is also very left footed and may need to work on his right side. He has good spring but can be outmuscled in the air by powerful wide men in the style of, say, Jon Walters at Stoke City. This may be of concern to watching scouts but I still think Henry’s plusses outweigh his minuses. Scouts will be wondering about his physique but look at the great England full back of the 1980s Kenny Sansom and all the caps he won. He was only 5ft 5in. These defenders do not need to be man mountains. Never mind the size, feel the quality.