Fulham's young defender Zatyiah
Knight was always going to stand out in football. Not only does he have
an unusual first name, but at 6ft 6in tall he also tends to tower above
most other players.
But it is the playing potential shown by the 21-year-old which has marked
him out from the crowd and brought praise from manager Jean Tigana.
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Zatyiah Knight Fulham's latest star youngster
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After Knight's League debut in a goalless draw at Filbert Street last month,
the Frenchman, who rarely gives much away, said to the then Leicester manager,
Peter Taylor, that the defender would one day play for his country. Tigana
did not say much to the player directly after the game or in the following
week but pointedly asked Knight - known as Zat - if he qualified to play
for England's Under-21 team.
Such a question would inflate the egos of many budding stars, but Fulham's
find has taken everything in his stride and has deserved to keep his place
in the team for his tough tackling and astute passing.
He is concentrating on staying there and keeping the experienced Kit Symons
and Alain Goma, who has just recovered from a hip injury, out of the team,
especially with a match on Sunday against the side he supported as a boy,
Aston Villa.
"Things have been going pretty well for me at the moment and I am enjoying
it. I always said to myself that if I worked hard and did well in the reserves
I would get a chance," Knight said. "Everyone wants to play in
the Premiership and now I have got my chance I just want to keep playing.
It will mean a lot to me if I can play on Sunday.
"I felt I should have had a chance to play a couple of times last season
and it was a bit frustrating, but I never showed it in training. The manager
gives people a go when he feels they are ready."
Tigana may not have spelled it out for Knight, but he always had a plan
for him. Instead of blooding him last season in the first team, he encouraged
him to develop his game in the reserves. He played the defender in midfield
to improve his touch, passing and increase his speed of thought on the ball.
They worked on his heading as well and when Tigana was busy in the transfer
market in the summer he delayed bringing in another defender until he had
a chance to test Knight in the Premiership. The manager said: "We worked
hard with Zat last year to prepare him for this season and there has been
a big margin in his progression, so when he plays it is because I believe
that he can play at the top level."
Even though Solihull-born Knight is not the finished article yet, he says
he feels comfortable playing in front of crowds now. He is not intimidated
by star names either, as a well-timed tackle on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
- which left the striker hobbling - proved when Fulham drew 1-1 with Chelsea
last month.
He said: "The way I look at it, is why should Zola be better than me?"
Fulham have Kevin Keegan to thank for bringing the confident but levelheaded
player to the club nearly three years ago after Benfica, Birmingham and
West Brom were all ready to offer him contracts. But he was not always destined
to play professionally. Knight was happy playing at non-League level and
working with computers before Fulham came along.
"There were too many potential problems with going to play abroad and
that is why I did not go to Benfica. I also wanted to be able to get home
and visit my family when I wanted to and that is why London is okay."
Knight lives with Fulham's other young success story, midfielder Sean Davis,
who is already an England Under-21 international and has set an example
for his flatmate by establishing himself in Tigana's team. If he can emulate
Davis' achievements, all Knight will need to do is work out which country
to play for as he qualifies for Jamaica and Ireland as well as England.
"I don't think playing for Jamaica would be good for my career so I
have ruled them out. But none of them have been in touch with me anyway,"
he said.
But it won't be long before they are.
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Source Evening Standard by Leo Spall