We need 3 strikers. We also have Europa and League Cup where he’d be the starter and he’d get 30 minutes coming off the bench and start when Auba/Laca are out. Given Emery likes starting both Laca and Auba at times Nketiah should get plenty of minutes.
If he stays, he can have 6 EL games, and maybe 1 or 2 League Cup starts while training with the first team and maybe getting a few mins here and there. Not a bad first half of the season for a backup striker.
Then in the second half of the season when we’re definitely not going to be trusting him to deliver in the EL latter stages, the FA Cup and we’re out of the League Cup, we can send him to some club that’s in need of a striker and let him have a good second half of the season.
Yes they probably will, I agree. But if one isn’t available, the other is highly likely to get the nod centrally, rather than being played wide or wherever else while Nketiah gets the nod centrally. It still makes it a very different scenario to what it could be like being a back up striker elsewhere, where he could be basically guaranteed the next in line to start in the event of injury or rotation. That’s all that I’m saying, not that I favour loaning him out, not that it will be impossible to find him minutes if he stays, nor anything else either really.
Last season Welbeck got a decent amount of minutes. You’re right that it depends if Emery is going to trust Nketiah or not. But the EL against small time opposition is the perfect chance to blood him into the squad
Thats a very small bite size and not convinced. Not really concerned what we do with him but will be happy if he has more to give.
All in all its probably a make or break season for him.