Deji’s Robben and Vieira influences can help him at Killie
As might be expected of a man who once turned down a threeyear contract from Manchester United, and models himself on Arjen Robben, Deji Sotona does not lack in confidence.
That is just as well because Kilmarnock manager, Derek McInnes, is giving serious consideration to unleashing the pacy 19-year-old on Celtic at some stage at Rugby Park today.
Brought in on loan from Nice, the Irish youth internationalist has not had a full pre-season, but advertised his readiness to play with a goal for Killie’s B-side last week.
“It was good to get 80 minutes under my belt, and I feel I am ready for Celtic,” said Sotona.
“So I am hoping to be involved, and the manager says that I should be. I’d be happy to make my debut from the start,
but I’ll take as many minutes as I can get.
“Celtic and Rangers are the biggest clubs in Scotland, and there should be a big crowd. So this would be a good start.
“I would say that pace is my main attribute, although I like to dribble as well. I’m very quick, and can play anywhere across the front line.
“I’ve mostly played on the left flank, but I’m trying to play on the other side more often so I can be more two-footed.
“For a few years, I watched Arjen Robben. He’s a rightwinger, who’s left-footed, and I’ve been trying to build my game around his style.
“He’s set the bar pretty high, though!”
Not yet 20, Sotona has already experienced the game’s lows as well as highs, and is viewing the Killie move as a chance to steer his career back onto an upward trajectory.
“I’ve made sacrifices in my career, and going to Nice was one of them. But that was all about first-team football, and trying to showcase my talent to see what I could do, ”he said.
“Not many players would turn down the offer of a threeyear contract from Manchester United, and it was the hardest decision of my career. But I chose to go to France because Patrick Vieira was the manager.
“He said that I would be playing for the first-team straight away, so it was really a no-brainer.
“Unfortunately for him – and me – he was sacked just a few weeks later, and the new coach had different ideas, which was a bittricky.
“That was a struggle, but I am at the stage now where I need to play regular first-team football in front of big crowds, and feel that pressure.
“I think that’s when I’ll show what I’m capable of.”
Killie boss McInnes approves of Sotona’s attitude, not least because it is in keeping with what he wants from all his players today.
“While Deji is young and small in stature, he does not lack in confidence, and has got really good attributes which can help us here, ”he said.
“Celtic can offer up chances because of their attacking philosophy, and how they set out to win games.
“Nobody is perfect, nobody is unbeatable. We know there is a challenge, but there are three points available and we have to try and take them.
“If we don’t, at the very least we try and make sure Celtic don’t get them. It is not a game we are thinking is just a free hit.”