He’s yet to make a senior appearance in the 18 months he’s been on Crystal Palace’s books but 19-year-old Nya Kirby is making a name for himself.
Loaned out to league One's Blackpool last month, the midfielder who was picked from Tottenham’s youth academy is starting to cause a stir at Bloomfield Road and Palace fans should start to get excited.
On Saturday he lined up for his full debut against former Palace favourite Jonny Williams at The Valley where the Tangerines and Charlton played out a goalless draw.
Prior to his full debut Kirby had been introduced from the bench with immediate effect, winning a penalty within five minutes of his senior debut.
Here's some footage of the penalty Nya Kirby won last night... (Via @KeySportsMGMT)pic.twitter.com/1aVgkwn2je
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) January 30, 2019
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His move north of Liverpool will no doubt give the talented youngster the minutes he needs in a competitive league against some quality midfielder opposition.
There’s no denying it’s Premiership football he craves, but with chances limited at a stacked midfield at Selhurst Park his loan until the end of the season is a real opportunity to put him in the shop window.
An opportunity he’s taking according to Blackpool boss Terry McPhillips.
“I thought he was terrific,” McPhillips said of his Charlton display.
“He’s not fazed, he can beat people and he’s got a great temperament.
“He passes the ball nicely, does his defending and he’ll have a fight with a big lad, like he did when he came on last week.
“I like him a lot.”
Fans of both Blackpool and Palace were both as complimentary:
Love that @nyakirby! Keep up the top work 💪 https://t.co/rVmP08iyVU
— KeySports Management (@KeySportsMGMT) February 17, 2019
Nya Kirby is special mate
— Sam • (@SWPalace) January 29, 2019
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Kirby is part of the golden generation of talent and was part of the England Under 17 team alongside Phil Foden and Calum Hudson-Odoi who lifter the World Cup in 2015.
He has represented England at Under 16’s right through to the Under 19’s when he made his debut at the back end of last year, where he also scored.
Earmarked for success, as was many of that triumphant age group, Kirby is now at a club where he will get minutes it seems and if he keeps up his fine start to 2019 he could possibly be fast-tracked into Roy Hodgson’s plans for next season.
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