Sutton (H) Issaka's Reaction

In Argyle’s Emirates FA Cup tie with Sutton United, Freddie Issaka made the second start of his fledging career, gaining more valuable experience.

Incredibly, for someone who does not 18 until July, Freddie’s record-breaking debut came over two years, when he became Argyle’s youngest-ever player, coming on as a substitute in an EFL Trophy encounter with Newport County. Since then, he has played 15 times in total, including one previous start, in the Carabao Cup, earlier this season, against Leyton Orient.

In 2023/24, Issaka has been an used substitute in five Sky Bet Championship games, including three of the last four, but he says that his FA Cup involvement may be the most useful so far.

“It was amazing; a great experience,” he said. “It's definitely one of the best ones I've had. It was my second start; another great experience.

“Coming on, you can just focus on running around and doing as much as you can, but when you start, you have to think more tactically and think how you can help the team in all the different ways. I feel like those experiences I've had, I can use going into this one, which definitely helped me be more relaxed and play better.

“At the start you're thinking: ‘I'm nervous’, but as soon as you get on the pitch, it's just like another game. Once you've made a couple of passes, got a few touches, you just start to relax. I just wanted to get the ball more and more.

“It's a good experience, but not too overwhelming.”

In a game that Argyle won 3-1, Freddie was involved in the game’s opening goal. Receiving the ball from Morgan Whittaker, Issaka pressed forward and fed Ryan Hardie, who offloaded for Callum Wright’s initial shot, which was saved, before Luke Cundle followed in to score.

Freddie recalled: “I think Morgan played it over to me over the top and - I can't blame it on the sun - but my first touch wasn't great! I was then able to recover and, as I'm driving inside, I was quite far from goal, so I knew I had to look for a pass or something. Luckily Ryan was there, I played it to him. He set really well to Cal, who got unlucky with the shot, but luckily Luke was there to follow in. It was a good goal.”