Finland U21 Coach: Koskela Can Succeed in England

Last updated : 31 May 2005 By Gary Fish

Markku Kanerva has warned Cardiff City midfielder Toni Koskela his permanent move to Wales will only work if he plays regular first-team football.

Koskela was on a six-month trial in south Wales, impressing enough to secure a one-year deal which he accepted after working his way into the first-team towards the end of the season.

Kanerva, Finland's U-21 coach, believes City have done the right thing in blooding Koskela slowly and emphasised he must get more regular football to develop properly.

Kanerva said: "If he plays well in the reserves, as I believe he has, then I hope he will get the chance in the first team to show what he can do because it will only prove to be a good move for him if he gets time on the field.

"It is better he goes to Cardiff rather than a Premier League club because he has more chance of playing.

"After this short time with Cardiff I don't really see much more deelopment in him yet, but if he can get first team games he will get better.

"With a lot of first-team experience and hard work, and he needs to hold down a position at Cardiff, he can go on to become a full Finnish international."

Kanerva, a former Finnish international, believes Koskela can do well in the British game and has all the attributes to succeed in the British game if given the chance.

Kanerva added: "He is a physical player who can cover the ball well and reads the game well.

"He is good at set-pieces and he knows when to pass and when to hold the ball because he is a good decision-maker, that is one of his biggest strengths.

"I can expect different types of passing from him because he has good variation.

"I also expect him to keep the ball under pressure and put the passes through for the strikers.

"But the problem he will face in playing in a different country is he perhaps needs quicker feet.

"He is quite young and has played in the Finnish league and will not be used to the tempo of the Championship.

"He will be used to getting a lot of time on the ball to decide what he wants to do, so he may find it hard to adjust initially because it will be quite a climb for him.

"In the Finnish League the top four or so teams could compete in England at Championship level - but only the top four.

"Toni's former club FC KooTeePee finished ninth, although he was probably their best player."