Steve Seddon 2019/20 – scout report

The rate at which a young player develops is difficult to forecast. While some players are ready-made at 18 or 19, it takes others longer to make their mark on the game. At 21, Steve Seddon has stepped into the limelight following his loan move from Birmingham to Portsmouth in January 2020. This scout report will assess the impact he has had on Portsmouth as they aim for promotion and provide analysis on the positivity he brings to the offence as a wing-back.

Portsmouth’s recruitment tactics in January 2019 were much criticised with the club picking up a poor run of form as new loan signings failed to bed into the team. The reliance on loan signings was criticised and one couldn’t help be sceptical when more loan signings were announced just 12 months later. Steve Seddon was signed to provide cover for captain Lee Brown following a lengthy injury. Since signing, Seddon was involved in 8 of the 16 goals Portsmouth scored in January resulting in a nomination for the EFL League One player of the month. Not only has he proved the critics wrong but he’s fast becoming a fans favourite at Fratton Park.

With Kristian Pedersen’s form keeping Seddon out of the starting eleven at Birmingham, he enjoyed loan spells at Stevenage and AFC Wimbledon in 2018/19. With a buzz starting to generate around Seddon, AFC Wimbledon were frustrated not to have captured Seddon for a second spell in January 2020. There is little doubt that Seddon will be a valued senior player in the EFL Championship next season and I would anticipate a hefty price tag if Birmingham aren’t able to employ him in 2020/21.

 Offensive positioning

Steve Seddon has developed to offer greater offensive support as a defensive winger rather than as a full back. His positioning sees him slightly ahead of the defence where he can offer more balanced support to the team.

The heatmap shows his positioning in the 2019/20 season so far with a balanced contribution to defensive and offensive duties. Having played as both a winger and full back in his youth, Seddon is comfortable in either position and is best employed in a hybrid role. His change over time can be mirrored in his interception rate. As the number of interceptions have gone down, it is evident that his role has transitioned to incorporate a more offensive role. This is similar to the data collected on Andy Robertson who made a similar transition in the 2017/18 season.