Chris Oldnall's Sidelines column

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers' central defender Abdou Sall has made such a big impact since making his debut recently that even his team-mates are among his growing band of fans.

One of his admirers is Harriers' front-runner Drewe Broughton, who has been so impressed by the 21-year-old that he's described him as a 'Sol Campbell type of player'.

To be spoken about in the same breath as the Arsenal superstar is praise indeed, but Sall is keeping his feet firmly on the ground after producing eye-catching performances in Kidderminster's last four matches.

He marked his debut with a goal in his side's 4-1 demolition of York City and since then has been a tower of strength in the games against Southend United, Chesterfield and Bristol Rovers.

Broughton said of the Senegal-born Frenchman: "He's got everything. He's only young and he's got it all ahead of him. Sometimes I think he tries to win every single ball and, although he's inexperienced, he's fantastic being like that for us.

"He's quick, he's six feet three and he's got absolutely everything. He's a Sol Campbell type of player."

Another of his Harriers 'fans' is fellow defender Craig Hinton who says: "Abdou is still learning but we are all trying to help him as much as possible and at 21 he's learning fast. He's getting better every day. His English is improving so he can understand better and Mark Blake is working with him after training to improve him.

"Blakey and the rest of us try to explain things in simple terms and Gary Barnett tells people like myself and Ian Clarkson to keep him concentrated all the time. He is good in the air and, because of his size, he is always going to win headers, but he has the ability to play as well and isn't bad with either foot."

Harriers boss Jan Molby is also impressed with Sall, who arrived at Aggborough on a free transfer from Toulouse in the summer.

He said: "We held him back as long as possible as it was a big transition for him moving from French football and then making the move up from reserve football in this country. However, injuries to Adie Smith and Mark Shail forced us to play him earlier than I would have like, but to be fair he has reacted superbly.

"It became obvious reserve football was doing him no favours. League football is his stage and he is certainly enjoying it. If he continues to progress the way he is doing at the moment we may find it difficult keeping hold of him.

"He has all the things you need to be a successful defender in the British game and has the potential to go all the way but he needs to do it here first."