Nabi brothers tipped for Premier League success at West Brom [Sky Sports]

Nabi brothers tipped for Premier League success at West Brom [Sky Sports]

By Dev Trehan – Sky Sports

West Brom’s British Asian duo Adil and Samir Nabi have got the potential to take the Premier League by storm in the coming years, according to one of the club’s academy coaches.

Asian Football Award winner Adil is nearing a return to full fitness after recovering from a serious knee injury sustained in a friendly against Telford prior to the start of the season.

His 17-year-old younger brother Samir has been in sparkling form at U18 and U21 level for West Brom this term, scoring against sides including Tottenham, Everton and last year’s FA Youth Cup winners Norwich.

And West Brom Colts coach Kam Uppal believes the pair have got what it takes to make the grade for the club at senior level.

“They’re very good,” Uppal told skysports.com. “Adil is excellent. He’s a versatile attacking player. He can play up front as a 9 or as a 10. He reminds me a lot of Michael Owen in terms of his style and stature. For me he’s an out and out striker.

“Adil was unfortunate with the injury that he got. I think at the time he was on the fringes of breaking into the first team.

“Hopefully he will come back from this injury fitter and stronger and hopefully he’ll be knocking on the door of the first team.

“Samir has just taken it to another level this year for the U21s and the U18s with the goals he’s been scoring and the way he has been performing. He’s been fantastic.

“He’s very technical in terms of where he plays in midfield, running with the ball and going forward. He scores a lot of goals for a player playing in that position.

“Everybody is waiting for that superstar from the Asian community. There’s a sprinkling of players throughout the divisions and hopefully in the next two or three years we’ll be seeing more.”

Uppal was speaking at Kick It Out’s Raise Your Game conference at Wembley Stadium where he was one of 50 mentors offering guidance and support to people trying to break into football.

The UEFA B Licence coach believes West Brom have one of the most dynamic approaches to coaching and recruitment of young players in the Premier League.

“West Bromwich Albion is probably one of the most perfect models in football in terms of community-based coaching,” he said.

“They have got community coaches working in grassroots football throughout Birmingham and the West Midlands.

“It’s an example that other football clubs should be following.”