Remember that Pulp song from the 90s? How does it go again? Oh yes:
‘Let’s all meet up in the year 2000, won’t it be strange when future scourge of Newcastle United, Ryan Sessegnon, is being born in Roehampton.’
Something like that, anyway.
In case you hadn’t heard, Sessegnon is the future of English football, the solution to the perennial left-sided problem and more. And he’s just 16 years old.
The Fulham academy product, who can play at left-back or on the left of midfield, scored twice as the Cottagers stunned Championship leaders Newcastle United with a 3-1 win at St James’ Park.
The teenager’s goals, which followed a Tom Cairney opener, brought Slaviša Jokanović’s team within touching distance of the play-offs and left the Magpies just six points clear of third-placed Huddersfield, who have a game in hand.
Ryan Sessegnon is 16-years-old and has 6 goals for the season having scored twice at Newcastle. Move along. Nothing to see here.
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) March 11, 2017
And Sessegnon could have even netted the first hat-trick of his professional career when Fulham were awarded a penalty, only for centre-back Tim Ream to take the spot-kick…and miss.
Naturally, a few people were none too happy with the American international, though he maintains it was his manager’s decision to keep him on penalty duties.
Imagine being Tim Ream
Take the ball off a 16-yr old Ryan Sessegnon to deny him his hat trick.
Game is over.
Miss it.
Congratulations!
— Kristian Sturt (@FootieWriter) March 11, 2017
your a prat mate, last kick of the game just let him have it regardless
— cozzzzzz (@jamie_cozza) March 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/neilroarty/status/840621025930932224
https://twitter.com/urbancoyote2/status/840620118480695297
If you take a penalty away from a 16 year old on a hat trick and then miss you should feel like a real arsehole #nufc #ffc
— Joseph (@JosephJosepe) March 11, 2017
Meanwhile, Newcastle fans were left reflecting on another setback in their quest to return to the Premier League at the first attempt, even if they do remain top on goal difference.
https://twitter.com/ChrisTurner_6/status/840609135683088385
https://twitter.com/sldouglas88/status/840609097410068480
https://twitter.com/CalvinNUFC_1998/status/840621635845652481
Torn apart by a 16 year old for fuck sake 😂😂 #nufc
— Aaron Olsson (@AOlssonNUFC) March 11, 2017