Issaka nominated for Championship Apprentice award
Freddie Issaka has been nominated for the EFL Sky Bet Championship Apprentice of the Season award, sponsored by LFE.
Freddie is on a three-man shortlist, alongside Archie Gray of Leeds United and Stoke City’s Nathan Lowe.
Gray, who turned 18 last month, is also nominated for the Young Player of the Season award, having played 36 times in the league this season for high-flying Leeds. Lowe has played 11 times, scoring once, for Stoke.
Issaka is Argyle’s youngest ever player, making his debut as a substitute in the EFL Trophy in August 2021, aged just 15 years and 34 days. Having gained more cup experience in the last two seasons, Issaka has made five substitute appearances in the Championship this season and started in wins over Leyton Orient in the Carabao Cup and Sutton United in the Emirates FA Cup.
Coincidentally enough, the 2023 Championship Apprentice of the Season was Ashley Phillips, then a Blackburn Rovers player, who has subsequently moved to Tottenham Hotspur and is now on loan at Home Park.
“It is fantastic for Freddie to be nominated,” said Argyle Under-18s manager Jamie Lowry. “It shows the hard work he has done, and when a player gets recognised, it reflects well on the club.
“Throughout the whole Academy, a lot of hard work goes into developing and nurturing every player, so anytime a player gets some form of recognition, it makes everything worthwhile.
“Freddie has been nominated alongside, and in front of, some excellent talents. He is in tremendous company; he and his family should be very proud.
“This season, he has got minutes in the first-team and been in the squad on lots of occasions. He has been part of our team that has won the Youth Alliance League, and he has played with the Wales Under-19s team in international fixtures.
“All of this, at a young age, is brilliant experience, and will stand him in good stead for the career he has in front of him. These experiences make you a better person, it will help him adapt his game.
“He is still very young, still a few months away from his 18th birthday, and is at the beginning of his journey. We hope he is going to go on to the bigger and better things, hopefully with us.”
The awards ceremony, where this award and the divisional Player of the Season, Team of the Season and other awards will be decided, takes place in London, on Sunday, 14 April.