Saints boss Dennis Greene reckons Junior Konadu can go all the way

FAST-FORWARD a couple of seasons and playmaker Junior Konadu could be the latest ex non-league player to be plying his trade in the Barclays Premier League.

That is the view of St Neots Town manager Dennis Greene, who was speaking ahead of Konadu’s scheduled appearance for Peterborough United in their friendly at Crawley Town last night.

The 24-year-old midfielder caught the eye playing for Saints during Saturday’s home friendly with Posh and subsequently trained with United on Monday – impressing manager Darren Ferguson.

“I honestly think he’s good enough to be playing in the Premier League, I really do,” said Greene, who revealed he was up until gone midnight on Monday talking to Konadu, ahead of his trial with Posh.

“Stepping up to the level Peterborough play at won’t be a problem for him because Junior will be Junior.

“He doesn’t seem to ever have a bad game and there aren’t many players, even at the highest level, who can say that. He just does what Junior does.”

Should Konadu impress enough to earn himself a full-time contract at London Road, he would have leaped seven levels – from the United Counties League last season to the npower Championship – in the space of a few months.

But Greene reckons that wouldn’t hinder his star, saying: “He would be training with top professional players and coaches at Peterborough, day in day out.

“He’d also be fitter and stronger than he is now – so why can’t he jump up to that level?

“I think he’d be good enough to get into their side.

“I just want him to play at the highest level he can, because it would be a real shame – and a waste of a talent – if he spends the rest of his career playing non-league football.”

Should there be a deal to be done for Konadu, Greene is hoping it will benefit the Saints longer term too, saying: “He’s under contract here and, if they wanted to take him, then we’d have to work out a deal.

“They wouldn’t get him for nothing and we’d look to get add-ons included, if he is sold on for a fee to another club later on.”

Spotted by Greene playing park football three years ago, Konadu played for Southern Premier outfit Hemel Hempstead under his current boss, before earning himself a one-year contract at League Two outfit Dagenham & Redbridge.

However a broken leg forced him to sit a year out of the game, before re-joining Greene at St Neots.