Humble, powerful, ready – Semenyo returns to where World Cup rise began

Humble, powerful, ready – Semenyo returns to where World Cup rise beganImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo has scored three goals in 34 appearances for Ghana since making his debut in 2022ByChris WathanBBC Sport WalesPublished27 minutes agoIt was the training ground moment that showed Antoine Semenyo was ready to take a breakthrough step in his career.Mike Flynn was watching on as one of the biggest players in his Newport County squad had aimed a shoulder barge at the teenager signed on loan from Bristol City without a senior start in professional football to his name.”He just held him off the ball without a problem,” recalls the former Newport boss. “You knew he was a special kid. He was raw but we’d already seen he had talent and how good he was off both feet.”But in that moment, you knew he was ready. We started him the next game.”Eight years on, Semenyo has been on the exact same training pitch on the outskirts of the south Wales city as Ghana based themselves in Newport to prepare for the World Cup.No longer the rejected striker trying to find his way in the game, Semenyo has returned a £62.5m attacking talent tipped to shine for the Black Stars when they face Panama, England and Croatia in Group L this month.International Friendly: Wales v GhanaTuesday, 2 June,19:45 BSTCardiff City StadiumLive on BBC iPlayer, BBC One Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and Sports Extra, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.Bellamy rejects club offers to commit to Wales