Mahamadou Susoho has made a cameo appearance in the Champions League for English side, Manchester City, but, Livingston’s manager, David Martindale, said it was a different ball game playing against Rangers in the physical and intense William Hill Premiership.
However, the on-loan, 20-year-old, Spanish-born, defensive midfielder earned plaudits from the boss.
So, did the rest of his team, despite losing 2-1 to a goal deep in injury time, a strike Martindale feels could have been prevented.
Susoho was one of two 20-year-old players in the midfield for Livingston against the Ibrox side and Martindale said: “I don’t think there will be many Premiership clubs doing that. I thought the two of them were magnificent.”
Focusing on Susoho, who has English, Spanish and Gambian nationality, the manager said: “I thought he was really, really good. He has played 14 minutes for Manchester City in the Champions League, but 14 minutes for Manchester City in the Champions League is a totally different game to coming out here (against Rangers).
“Thought it took him 14/15 minutes to find his feet and I felt he was really, really good with a lot of his work in the game.”
He was replaced by Tete Yengi with two minutes of regular time remaining as he was going down with cramp and Martindale said: “That probably tells you how much he put into the game.
“There are not many games where he has played at that intensity and that physicality and that is why Manchester City have entrusted us with him and his development, and his progression.
“We will give him exposure to this level of football in a consistent basis.
“He is good on the ball, and I do not think you get to be at Manchester City…if you have not got that ability that composure on the ball. That is why I started him, he is brave, he will go and find areas to get on the ball. There was a lot to like, not just from Susoho, but for everybody that went on that park for us.
“I could go through the whole team, but there were a lot more positives than negatives.”
The manager also complemented 31-year-old, French-born, midfielder, Mo Sylla and he said: “I thought Mo was brilliant. He was one of the best players on the park. When I had to push him over to right back I thought he was brilliant.
“I could go through the whole team, Jerome, Adam, Dan, they were all brilliant. Yes, we ae disappointed, we can do better at the two goals, collectively, but, to be honest, the players have got to take a lot of belief from the performance. Honestly, I am really, really, proud of the players.”
LEARNING HIS TRADE: Susoho adapting to life in the William Hill Premiership. Picture Nigel Duncan
