Sideways Sammy

The second of two winger signings made on loan for Coventry City this January window, Romain Esse is another relatively raw and young player with some Championship experience intended to add some important depth to the team’s attacking options. Coming through at Millwall, Romain Esse earned a move to Crystal Palace after a strong start to last season but returns to the second-tier having struggled to get on the pitch regularly at the Premier League club. At 20 years old, Esse’s prospects of establishing himself as a top-flight player are far from over and he’ll be looking to use his time at Coventry to prove he is up to the standard Crystal Palace gambled on him being 12 months ago.

A tall, lanky wide player who can play off either flank who seems to have a willingness to receive the ball while taking physical contact and produce moments of skill, Romain Esse is someone who plays with a real swagger when at his best. End product is the biggest weakness in his game, with Esse seeming to lack a level of composure when it comes to picking a final pass or getting a shot away. If things click for him, Romain Esse is someone who can carry the ball for fun and make something happen out of nothing. The question is whether he can reach that level quickly, having not played regular football in a year and with competition for a starting place.

At this stage in his career, Romain Esse is someone who has only really shown he is potentially good rather than demonstrating it on a consistent basis. The move to a Premier League club probably came at least six months too early and he returns to the Championship looking to re-establish some rhythm. This arguably clashes with coming into a team where he’ll have to compete for a starting place – likely, with Tatsuhiro Sakamoto on the right of the attack – and there is pressure to perform instantly to help the team’s promotion bid. As useful as adding squad depth is, it’s only so useful if the players coming in aren’t suited to making an instant impact. Romain Esse could prove an inspired addition if he can hit the ground running or he could really struggle with the scenario he’s walking to.