Game boy Sess is the new Bale

RYAN SESSEGNON has already made his mark in English football.

Now his mentor and Fulham team-mate Kevin McDonald believes the teenager could be the next Gareth Bale, who also started out as a left-back before moving forward to play on the wing.

McDonald, 28, has taken Sessegnon (right) under his wing and tutored him through Fulham’s FA Cup games and has high hopes for the teenager.

He also thinks Sessegnon, 16, can continue to impress against high-flying Spurs today.

“There’s no limit to what he can achieve – he is that good,” said McDonald.

Sessegnon, on Fulham’s books since the age of nine, is in the record books as the first professional footballer in the English league to have been born in the 2000s and also to score a first-team goal.

He has played in both of Fulham’s FA Cup matches and McDonald added: “Sess just came from nowhere. He’s such a good option to have.

“You’ve got Scott Malone at left-back who’s been the regular one but you put Sess in for a few games and every time he does well.”

Despite showing his skills on the pitch, McDonald does not rate Sessegnon’s gaming ability quite as highly.

“I get on with Sess quite well. We have a laugh. He’s only 16, you know?

“He plays these games on his phone and stuff. So I’ve got involved with him and I play him at this game called 8 Ball Pool and he’s terrible. “We’ve started playing Mario Kart on the Nintendo DS. I bought him one because all the boys had them. “I thought he’d be all right at it but he’s the worst player I have ever seen, honestly. “There are eight people in a race – he finishes eighth every time. I’ve never seen anything like it. “I don’t know what he does with his time. He must play football all the time because he isn’t playing computer games, no chance. “He’s such a nice kid. All the boys love him and he’s been compared to Bale because he started out at left-back. “There is a lot of personality in the dressing room but he doesn’t say a lot. He goes about his business his own way, which is fair play. “It’s probably a bit strange for him to be in there at 16. But he’s a great player, a great kid.” McDonald (left) was involved in Burnley’s epic 2008-09 League Cup run, scoring twice to beat Arsenal, before they finally lost to today’s opponents Tottenham. He added: “I just hope Spurs bring their best side because it gives us a chance to show how we have progressed. “Our performances have been good. Our manager wants us to be more horrible at home and I agree with that.” TONY STENSON