Former Everton midfielder Femi Orenuga tells West Ham fans all about AFC United teammate Rinor Nushi, celebrates Leighton Baines' wonder free-kick and talks about his first preseason in Sweden.
Great timing, heh? The week I kickoff my new column with tribalfootball.com one of my teammates at AFC United is all set to move to the Premier League!
It looks like young Rinor Nushi is set to sign for West Ham United, though I'm reading that Crystal Palace have also come in for him. Either way, Rinor is a terrific talent.
Rinor is a player to watch out for, he has a lot of flair which I'm sure will raise people's eyebrows. I think he will do very well at West Ham.
The youth team here is one of the best in Stockholm, with players like Rinor coming through. I can tell you, he's just the first of many.
I have spoken to him and told him how it is in England, so he is aware of everything that he's likely to experience. I believe he will be a success at West Ham if he stays focused and works hard.
Of course, I know all about moving to the Premier League as a teenager. I was 16 when I left Southend United for Everton.
I'd say to Rinor, or any young player set for such a move, he should not feel too comfortable there in his first year. He must attack it and make the gaffer want to involve him in the first team.
Someone he can learn from is Raheem Sterling and what he's been able to achieve at Liverpool this season.
Speaking of West Ham, it's great to see Joe Cole back at the Boleyn Ground. I saw him in the FA Cup against Manchester United and wasn't surprised by his performance. I've always liked Cole as a player and I think he has always been a talent, I just think he's been unlucky with the injuries he has had.
There really shouldn't be any surprise about his early impact at West Ham, he's just been unlucky over the years with injury.
I have to say, I'm still buzzing over the free-kick scored by my former Everton teammate Leighton Baines at Newcastle United last week. It was one of the best free-kicks I've seen him score.
I think Bainsy is the best left-back in the Premier League. He is just always so consistent and there's nothing better than having a player like that in your team.
Playing against him in training was hard, but I enjoyed it because it helped me as a player.
Preseason with AFC United has been good. Seeing new faces and getting to know how they play is always exciting.
The gaffer, Valeri Bondarenko, has a structure on how he wants us to play and I really like it. I think it will help everyone. He's the type of manager who likes to speak to players individually.
There's been a massive overhaul of players at AFC United in the offseason. I'm not alone in being a new signing here.
But I don't think it's a concern having so many new faces arriving every week, if anything it keeps me on my toes to perform week in week out.
When you're playing for a team like Manchester City then it's time to be concerned!
Femi Orenuga was speaking to Ifeanyi Abanum of AllNigeriasoccer.com on behalf of tribalfootball.com. Visit AllNigeriasoccer.com for all your latest Nigerian football news.
