Burton: Sahar can be a Pompey smash
Published Date:
02 July 2008
Ben Sahar possesses the firepower to be a Portsmouth smash.
That's the verdict of former Blues star Deon Burton, who is convinced his ex-team-mate can become a Fratton Park hero.
Burton saw at first hand the Chelsea starlet's talents when he lined up alongside Sahar at Sheffield Wednesday last season.
The Israeli international grabbed three goals in 12 games on loan at Hillsborough, starting eight of them.
That input helped keep the Owls in the Championship, Sahar's last-day strike in the 4-1 romp over Norwich preserving their status.
Now Pompey have taken the 18-year-old on a six-month loan in a bid to pep up an attack which, Jermain Defoe aside, has largely struggled to score consistently. And Burton is confident he can prove to be a fans' favourite.
He said: 'Ben's only a young lad but you can see he's got plenty of ability to be at a club like Chelsea.
'Obviously, I saw lots of him training every day and playing in the same team as him and I cannot see any reason why he won't do well at Pompey.
'He's a very good finisher, a real poacher, and is lightening fast.
'That frightens the life out of defenders and can really open things up for your team-mates.
'I like the fact he's so willing to learn as well. He listens to what he has to do and then acts upon it.
'For a young lad that's really good. I have to say, it was a pleasure to play alongside him at the end of last season.
'He scored some crucial goals, worked for the team and was good around the place.
'Only time will tell if he can do that in the Premier League but I am sure if he gets his chance he will do well.
'Even at his age he has already played for Israel and you can't have caught the eye of Chelsea and not be a decent player.
'He's definitely got the potential to score goals for Pompey and it will be interesting to see if he can live up to that.'
Sahar snubbed an approach from Dutch club NEC Nijmegen to remain in the Premier League with Pompey.
He said: 'I'm ready for the challenge of being part of such a big club like Portsmouth.
'My goal is to play and I'm a striker, so of course I want to score a few goals for Portsmouth – that's why I'm here. It's a new beginning and I'm ready for it.'
The former Hapoel Tel Aviv striker spent loan spells with QPR and Sheffield Wednesday last season.
Now he has the chance to impress in the top flight and add to the three substitute appearances picked up with Chelsea in the 2006-07 campaign.
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Last Updated:
02 July 2008 9:34 AM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Portsmouth