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Sky Sports Scout, in association with Wyscout, reports on Nigerian Kenneth Omeruo

Sky Sports Scout Kenneth Omeruo

Sky Sports Scout is our exciting feature where we scour the globe, in partnership with Wyscout, looking out for the best talent and bring you a report on what we find.

Our scout - using all the tools at his disposal, which now includes the world's leading scouting resource Wyscout - will report back and you can comment on what you think of their appraisal.

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Scout Facts

NAME: Kenneth Omeruo
AGE: 20 (17th October, 1993)
BORN: Abia State, Nigeria
POSITION: Defender
CLUB: Chelsea (on loan at Middlesbrough)
FACTS: He is the only player in the Dutch league ever to score a goal, an own goal and receive a red card in one match

Sky Sports Scout Ratings:

0-10 - No hoper
11-20 - Should look elsewhere
21-30 - Might not make it
31-40 - Has work to do
41-50 - Keep an eye on him
51-60 - Great prospect
61-70 - On his way to the top
71-80 - Already World-class

The latest player to be spotlighted is Nigerian defender Kenneth Omeruo.

The scout reports...

Chelsea have a host of young players impressing out on loan, but few are catching the eye more than Nigeria international Kenneth Omeruo.

Omeruo is currently enjoying a loan stint at Championship outfit Middlesbrough, where he has become a first-choice player under Aitor Karanka. The Boro boss was recommended the player by Jose Mourinho, with whom he worked at Real Madrid.

More from Sky Sports Scout

It took a few weeks for Omeruo to get his chance on Teesside, but he took it with both hands and has been outstanding for Boro in recent weeks.

His spell at the Riverside has actually given Omeruo his first taste of football in England, having never played for Chelsea.

Omeruo was snapped up by the Blues in 2012 from Belgian side Standard Liege, who had signed him in 2010.

Standard had signed the player having spotted him playing in Anderlecht's academy. Omeruo first came to the attention of European clubs in 2009 when he helped the Nigerian Under-17 squad finish runners-up at the World Cup.

He was spotted by both Anderlecht and Villarreal, and he opted for the Belgian side - but after two months, things had not worked out in Brussels and he returned to Nigeria to sign for Sunshine Stars, although it was not long before Standard picked up on Omeruo's availablity and recruited him.

Omeruo's progression continued at Standard, which brought him to the attention of Chelsea and in January 2012, they announced his signing and that he would immediatley join Dutch side ADO Den Haag on an 18-month loan.

Omeruo settled well in The Hague and soon become first-choice. Indeed such was his progress that in January 2013 - 12 months after Chelsea signed him - he was handed his senior debut by Nigeria, aged just 19.

He went on to feature in the Africa Cup of Nations before also playing a starring role in the Confederations Cup, which saw him impress against the likes of Uruguay and Spain.

Omeruo returned to Chelsea last summer, before they sanctioned another loan spell for him - this time with Middlesbrough.

Now on Teesside, Omeruo has shone with a string of outstanding defensive displays.

Strong and stocky, Omeruo likes to keep things simple, which if nothing else means he makes very few errors - which is rare for such a young player. He plays with composure and rarely looks flustered.

The 20-year-old is very strong, but despite his physicality, he is very quick over the ground - making him very hard for an attacker to beat.

All in all, many have been surprised just how Championship-ready Omeruo has been, but he has shown that he is more than capable of playing at that level and indeed, you have to wonder just how far off a chance in Chelsea's first-team he could be.

Indeed his best chance to impress Chelsea could very well come this summer, when he is expected to feature at the World Cup finals for the Super Eagles.

The scout says...

A huge talent, and one who already finds himself at one of the biggest clubs in the world - but it remains to be seen if he is given his chance at Stamford Bridge. If Chelsea don't use him, then there will be no shortage of offers.

The Scout rating...

Shooting: 5 out of 10
Passing: 6 out of 10
Tackling: 7 out of 10
Heading: 7 out of 10
Pace: 8 out of 10
Vision: 6 out of 10
Current ability: 7 out of 10
Potential ability: 10 out of 10
OVERALL SCOUT RATING: 56/80
Current value: £500,000
Potential value: £8million

Your opinion...

You have read our opinion of Kenneth Omeruo - now we want your views. Have you seen Omeruo in action? Do you agree with our assessment? Do you think he will make it?

Get in touch, either using the form below, email or the scout's Twitter feed - @SkySportsScout.

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