Cheltenham Town goalkeeper Joe Day has revealed that he’s ‘pleased’ with the attitude of under-18s goalkeeper Mamadou Diallo and believes he has the potential to have a good career.
With the departure of Owen Evans on loan to National League side Barnet, the Robins opted to not sign a replacement and diverted their eyesight to the academy.
He said with a smile: “I’m really pleased with Mamadou and how he’s developing.
“He’s a really good character and has really good temperament for a goalkeeper.
“He takes everything in his stride and for me personally, he’s exceeding expectations at the moment and doing really well in training and progressing really well.
“He’s got the right attitude and wants to learn, wants to listen and if he can continue doing that then he’ll go on to have a really good career.”
CREDIT: Nizaam Jones
Diallo’s loan with Bath City was cancelled within a matter of days as he was thrown straight into the backup slot, but despite the pace of how it’s all happened, Day claims he has handled it superbly.
He said: “For me at the moment at his age, it’s about getting his technical bits right but also bringing him up to speed.
“The first-team environment is a big step up for him and as I’ve said, he’s taken it in his stride.
“He’s picked up the increase in pace of how we train and play with the physicality of it.
With the transfer window shut, clubs can only sign free agents but it looks unlikely that the Gloucestershire side will move for another goalkeeper which means Diallo could be called into action before the end of the season.
The former Yeovil Town player is looking forward to working with the prospect and helping him gain more experience in a professional environment.
He stated: “The longer he’s with us, he will get better at talking to defenders and players out on the pitch.
“With experience, that comes more natural because you’re more confident in your own game so you’re able to help others.
“Overall, he’s doing really well.”
