Fast, direct, lively. Endorsements don’t glow much more than Stuart Dallas’s when he spoke about Ian Poveda at the end of January.
The latter had been training at Thorp Arch for a few days after his Manchester City switch when his experienced team-mate answered questions about him.
"Fast, direct, he's quick, he’s fitted in really well,” Dallas said at the time. “I haven't seen a player who's taken to a group as well as he has taken and I'm being serious when I say that.
“He's trained with us a few days now and you'd think he's been here since the start of the season, you know he's lively about the place.”
The following weeks did not pan out how anyone expected, least of all Poveda himself, who made the bench a couple of times, but soon found he was outside the squad altogether.
A debut finally followed on Sunday, nearly five months after his bright and bubbly arrival. A late entry from the bench and little space to work with in Cardiff City’s half.
Dallas was asked to revisit that opening Poveda gambit this week, and reflect upon what’s gone on behind the scenes with the talented youngster.
Encouragement and a warm arm around the shoulder have been needed, despite Poveda’s ability to fit in with the group easily.
“He’s a good lad, first and foremost,” said Dallas. “He works hard in training. It’s the manager’s decision what he does with him.
“He’s one where you just need to put an arm around him at times and give him a bit of encouragement.
“He knows he’s good enough, he knows he’s got talent, but he just needs to work on extra things and obviously the way we play, you’ve got to work hard.
“He’s got that and sometimes you just need to tell him and make him believe he’s got that.
“He can be a top player, he can be a very good asset to us and he feels as if he’s got a point to prove and coming on in games now, or whether he starts, you’ll start to see his best.”
Poveda is expected to be on the bench tomorrow when Fulham visit Elland Road, but will no doubt hope to make an impact on the pitch.
