Fulham head coach Marco Silva has urged Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey to sharpen his aerial ability if he wants to take his game to a higher level, Footynaija.com reports.
While the Nigerian centre-back has made clear strides this season, his manager believes there’s still one area that needs fixing.
Bassey, who moved to Fulham from Ajax in 2023, has been a regular feature in the Premier League this season, showing strength in duels and improving his game reading. However, Silva believes the 25-year-old must work on his aerial dominance.
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This advice comes at a time when Bassey is earning more responsibilities both at club level and for the Nigerian national team under coach Eric Chelle.
“He really has to improve his aerial duels. All the other things? He has them. He has the ability on the ball, he’s quick, and strong in the duels,” Silva said in an interview with Skysports
Silva also pointed out the need for full-game sharpness:
“He has to be more concentrated to be more focused in all the moments of the game. If he’s able to stay focused throughout the game, then he’s able to play the way he plays. He’s very aggressive and he’s very quick.”
So far this season, Bassey has made 30 Premier League appearances, scoring once in the league and once in the FA Cup against Manchester United.
His most eye-catching strength, though, has been ball progression. According to pro football focus PFF, Bassey holds the highest ball carry grade (82.9) among all Premier League centre-backs, a stat that reflects how comfortably he drives the ball from deep areas under pressure.
For Nigeria, he remains a dependable part of the setup. After featuring at the 2023 AFCON and helping the Super Eagles reach the final, Bassey is expected to remain in the fold during the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches.
With consistent game time and more aerial awareness, Silva believes the former Rangers man can become even more complete: a proper modern-day defender with strength, speed and confidence on the ball.
