Swiss football expert Craig King - @FootballSwissEN on Twitter - gives us the lowdown on our new right-back, Kevin Mbabu.
What sort of defender is Kevin Mbabu?
Attack-minded. Like many in the full-back positions these days, he loves to drive forward and be involved in the attacks. That being said, he is a good tackler and does his bit defensively too, but the strongest area of his game is the attacking side of it.
What would you say his main strengths are?
His pace and acceleration are the first things that you notice about Mbabu. As I mentioned, he is a good tackler and very determined overall, with a good work-rate. Nothing he does on the pitch is half-hearted. Good at dribbling with the ball, some of his more memorable goals and assists over the last few years have come from him dribbling past the opposition and eventually creating or scoring a goal. He has a good level of stamina, too, doesn't have problems seeing out the entire game, and is a decent crosser of the ball.
Is he versatile?
He can play right-back or right wing-back, although has been pushed further forward at times by Young Boys, Wolfsburg and the Swiss national team. He also played some games at centre-back for Wolfsburg, but this isn't a position that you'd play him in through choice, in my opinion. I definitely think he could be useful playing further up or as a right midfielder, given the attacking attributes he possesses, but he is most suited at RB or RWB.
How would you describe his spell at Newcastle?
Too much, too soon. He joined the club before he was 18 and broke into the team for a handful of appearances when they were having a very turbulent season that eventually ended in relegation. He also wasn't helped by a loan spell to Rangers where he didn't even feature on the bench. It was frustrating but it eventually opened the door to a move to Young Boys on loan that kickstarted his career and really brought him to attention in Switzerland. Many were aware of him and his potential, but that was the first time he was really able to show it consistently. Like other Swiss players have done, I feel he made the jump to Newcastle and the Premier League too soon and needed that time back in the league to develop further at a senior level.
Do you think that taste of Premier League football has whet his appetite to give it another go?
Most definitely. I mentioned before that he is a determined individual, there's no doubt in my mind that proving himself at that level is a major factor in making the move from Germany, and I also believe it would've been on his mind when he made the switch to Wolfsburg. Coming to the league [the first time], playing so little and having to move on, I think he will be very keen to make his mark this time and I believe it is the correct time for him to do so. He's more mature, a better player and more experienced than he was when he moved to Newcastle. This should all serve him well.
What sort of role does he play in the Switzerland team?
He made his debut in 2018 after his impressive displays at Young Boys, but he was competing with Stephan Lichtsteiner for the right-back position for two years. Given the experience and longevity of Lichtsteiner, he was going to prove very hard to displace. The 2018 World Cup came too soon, but he is a consistent figure in the team when he is fit. A few years ago, many would've expected him to have nailed down the RB slot as his own after Lichtsteiner retired in 2020, but the performances of Silvan Widmer has made it a battle between the two for that spot. While I wouldn't say he was first choice, he is a relied upon figure on the team. He featured regularly at EURO 2020 and provided the equalising assist against France - and that is his role, he is trusted to get forward and create opportunities, much like Widmer. They are similar players in that respect.
How important was he to Young Boys’ successful period in the Swiss Super League?
Hugely important. He was a key component in bringing YB their first domestic title in 32 years and also their first-ever Champions League qualification. It was during this period that I, and many others, became aware of the potential and talent he had. Of course, we were aware of him, but he hadn't really had the chance to showcase that skill. He had left Servette having played only one professional match and had barely featured for Newcastle in the top-flight. His performances continually caught the eye and he contributed to one of the most exciting YB teams in recent times, a team that scored eighty-four goals in the season.
To get an example of what he could bring to the team, two games stand out: a 6-1 win over St. Gallen in 2017 where he scored and assisted, and his goal against Dinamo Zagreb in 2018 UCL qualifying, when he completed a wonderful team goal that began with his dribbling run on the halfway line. YB have had good right-backs since, including Jordan Lotomba and Silvan Hefti, but Mbabu was the best of the lot in my opinion.
Do you think he’ll be a good fit in Marco Silva’s Fulham?
I only watched Fulham on a couple of occasions last season, so I'm not completely clued up on the style of Marco Silva or the team. That being said, they scored a lot of goals last season and by all accounts played some very attractive, attacking football. That is something that suits Mbabu. The approach may have to be a little more disciplined in the Premier League, I would imagine, but if Fulham play positively when they can, he can be a real asset to the team, especially with a striker like Mitrović to get on the end of crosses. With the signing of players like Manor Solomon, I do think it paints a picture of the team Silva is trying to build, so Mbabu can definitely fit into that.
What would a good season for Kevin and Fulham look like?
Given the struggles of the last couple of seasons in the Premier League, I think Fulham staying up has to be the main aim of their season. Given the way they romped to the title in the Championship, I do think they are better placed than they maybe have been in previous seasons. For Kevin personally, a sustained run of football is required to show his ability. We have talked about his potential for a long time, and at 27 he needs to start showing it in his performances like he did at YB. This feels like a real pivotal transfer, he needs to perform here. If he can perform to his best and cement his position as a key player in the team, then those are all steps in the right direction for Mbabu.
