Sideways Sammy

A slow start to his time at Coventry City for Milan van Ewijk has been long forgotten, now seen as one of the team’s most reliable performers and probably the best right-back in the Championship. One of the big success stories of last summer’s rebuild, Milan van Ewijk is clearly someone whose future is destined for a higher level, a trajectory that it is hoped that the Sky Blues can match. An excellent defender, comfortable in possession and someone who can really stretch the game going forward, Van Ewijk consistently makes the right side of the pitch his own. In what has been a difficult start to the new season, the Dutchman has been almost the only player that can be relied upon for consistent performances.

Blessed with blistering pace, Milan van Ewijk is much more than a speed merchant. Able to ease opponents off the ball with well-timed challenges, that extra speed in recovery makes him especially hard to get past. Going forward, Van Ewijk increasingly trusting his ability to past past defenders and attack the byline to stretch teams on the right side of the pitch. The final ball remains the key area in which Van Ewijk needs to improve, both in picking the right moments to produce it and the accuracy. Even without that, Milan van Ewijk is such a force on the right side that he one of the key presences in this Coventry City team.

The main concern with Milan van Ewijk is the workload put on him by the lack of natural cover in the squad currently available. Van Ewijk’s poorer performances look to have come from him being overworked and as someone with explosive pace, the risk of injury is especially high. Furthermore, he is almost certainly someone who will not be at Coventry City next season should the team fail to win promotion, thus the club will surely be considering the difficult process of succession planning for such a uniquely talented footballer. Currently on course for a player of the season campaign, Milan van Ewijk is a player to be enjoyed.