Saw this one him on the internet:
17-year-old M'Baye Niang, currently contracted to Ligue One Caen,
survived an intense battle between the country of his birth, France,
and that of his parents, Senegal last year. The winners, France, layed
claim to one of the most exciting prospects in Europe at present,
after a whirlwind rise to the top.
Niang was born in the tiny French town of Meulan, a commune in the
Yvelines department of the Île-de-France region. He began his football
career at the age of seven playing for local club Basse-Seine Les
Mureaux. Niang spent two years at the club before being spotted by
amateur club Poissy. After hearing of the player through word of
mouth, Niang was spotted by professional club Caen scouts Laurent
Glaize and David Lasry who had discovered a player with an amazing mix
of physical and technical qualities. They had to check out the tip off
for themselves, and after a short trial, signed the prospect to their
youth ranks.
After a couple of seasons of swift development, Niang was promoted to
Caen 's reserve team in the fourth tier of French football - a notable
achievement for a 15-year-old. A solid tally of 5 in 16 games
followed, and consequently brought a call up to the national team,
where he scored 3 times in 6 games for the Under-16s. Thereafter, he
was granted a place in the first team and got a taste of the top
flight football - a professional debutant at 16 - getting brief
substitute role against Toulouse in April 2011, becoming Caen's
youngest ever player, before finding the net on his second ever start
against Lens in a 1-1 draw, and claiming the title of the second
youngest player ever to score in Ligue One.
Niang went on to play a key role in helping Caen avoid relegation,
even scoring against Marseille on the final game of last season to
ensure their survival. He finished the campaign with 3 in 7, to all
but cemented his involvement in the side on a regular basis. But with
the 16-year-old earning so much attention, Premier League clubs came
calling thick and fast and it's not difficult to see why.
Niang may only be 17, but he's already physically advanced and a
gladiator. At a touch over six feet tall and with extraordinary upper
body strength, there's more growing and developing to come, and you
can bet your bottom dollar he won't be subject to bullying by even the
most experienced of centre halves.
Yet pigeon hole Niang as a target man at your peril - he's a lot more
than that. He may be tall and strong with an extremely athletic
physique, but his favoured position is not as a classic striker, but
in actual fact a more a deep-lying forward like the Kagawas and
Belhanda's of the world, and much like his idol, Thierry Henry, the
boy prefers to start his runs on either flank, particularly the left,
drifting inside and using his pace and power to maximum effect.
Niang, for his age, his uncharacteristically mature in his decision
making, often making dangerous runs in behind defenders while also
possessing illusive movement and plays the offside trap like child's
play. He's a real handful for defenders, and although makes a decent
wide-man or attacking midfielder, once he gains experience, time is
likely to expose a more natural striker, playing further and further
up the pitch and utilising his pace, intelligence and power to maximal
effect.
There's still some tweaks to be done on this bright prospect,
finishing being one of them but Niang is the type of player that can
easily be moulded into a striker who can suit all different
situations, whether that's using his pace and strength to play on the
shoulder, or his technical game with a role just off another front man
where he prefers, he's able to flourish wherever, and it will be
interesting to see how he's used when he finally seals a switch away
from Normandy.
Overall, Niang is a very exciting talent, boasting all the physical
qualities required, being tall, fast, strong, powerful and incisive,
but add to that intelligence, good movement, versatility an eye for a
pass and good link up play, and France can consider themselves lucky
they bagged him.
