From non-league to the World Cup - the Semenyo story

Semenyo might have signed for a Championship club but, still only 18 years old, he was immediately sent out on loan to non-league side Bath City. Jerry Gill, their coach at the time, believes that step into men's football helped Semenyo become the physical player he is today. "When he was playing with players of his own age he relied on the fact he would just be stronger than them - but when he came up against men he had to learn how to protect with his arm, shield the ball, spin and slide," said Gill. Semenyo started as a striker but Gill moved him out wide and was impressed with his response to feedback. "He was a sponge," said Gill. "He was accepted with the team - and that's not easy for a young lad coming on loan. His attitude had to be right and it was. He had that big smile on his face that you still see now." Next came a loan move to League Two Newport County, for whom he scored three goals in 21 games across the first half of the 2018-19 season. A couple of impressive FA Cup performances saw him heavily linked to Premier League side Chelsea - and prompted Bristol City to recall him. Would this be Semenyo's moment to shine at a higher level? Not quite. He was handed his first start by the play-off chasing Robins in March 2019 but was hooked before the hour mark with his team 1-0 down at home to Leeds. A month later, with City trailing top-six rivals Derby, he was thrown on as a 33rd-minute substitute in search of an equaliser. …