Kieran McKenna has stated he is ‘really pleased’ to have Jeremy Sarmiento through the door at Portman Road and is hoping the winger can be involved in Saturday’s FA Cup match at AFC Wimbledon (12.30pm).
The Tractor Boys completed the loan signing of the 21-year-old from Brighton & Hove Albion yesterday after the Ecuadorian international returned to the South Coast having spent the first half of the season on loan at West Brom.
“We’re really pleased to have him. He’s a player that we feel that we know pretty well. We’ve watched him for a long period of time, both for Brighton last year and for West Brom this year and we’ve spoken to him for a considerable period of time,” said McKenna.
“We’re hoping to have him involved this weekend.” Of course, when players undergo a shift that involves a lot of travelling, new surfaces, and a new atmosphere, you must always be cautious.
The psychological impact of that can also impact physically if you’re not careful so we’ll try and make good informed decisions and we’ll involve him on Saturday to the maximum possible really.
“We feel like he is a good fit here. Culturally, he’s a hard working young player and he wants to improve and we feel like he can add quite a lot to us within our style of play.
“We’re thrilled to have him, and we hope this is a good move for him as well as a good addition for us.”
“He had limited minutes at first due to an injury, but he had a really good run of games in December.” We believe he comes to us in better physical shape and with a better grasp of the league than he would have had at the start of the season.
“That’s a bonus and that’s always one of the biggest things on your checklist for signings in January is players who are game ready and can hopefully help your group in the short term.”
Sarmiento, who will represent Ecuador in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, made an appearance total of 20 appearances for the Baggies – scoring twice – before returning to his Premier League parent club at the start of the month and will wear the number 21 shirt during his spell at Portman Road.
He’s a very diverse offensive player. He played on the right side and wide on the right side for Brighton last season, as well as for Benfica in his youth career. He’s played as a wide left for Ecuador, as a touchline wide left for West Brom, and as a number 10,” McKenna noted.
“Of course, his versatility is a big asset for him, and it’s a big asset for us to use in the best way we can.”
“As a player, he has a very high technical level.” A wonderful ball manipulator, with really outstanding one-on-one skills and the ability to combine and beat opponents, which is something we really wanted to bring to the group.
“We have a fantastic range of attributes in this squad and you could maybe say that at this time last year, with Kyle Edwards, we had some of those qualities in the squad and we don’t have as much of that this year. That was a goal in the summer window to add those qualities.
“Of course, there are aspects of his game that need to be improved and developed; that’s normal for any young player, and the reason for him to go out on loan is to do so.”
“But also, be about us trying to get him on the pitch in scenarios where he can use his best attributes whether that be in either of the wide areas or more central positions.”
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