Miguel Cardoso embraces selection headache after Brayan Leon signing | OneFootball

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Cardoso speaks on selection dilemma in attack

Photo: Phakamisa Lensman/BackPagePix

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has welcomed the selection headache in the no.9 role following the signing of striker Brayan Leon.

The 25-year-old Colombia international arrived on a reported deal worth $ 3.5 million (R57 million) from Independiente Medellin in the ongoing January transfer window.

Leon swiftly introduced himself to the Masandawana faithful as he scored on debut in the Betway Premiership win over Orbit College on Monday, much to the delight of Cardoso.

“Brayan is a player that's fit to play. He's a player that arrived in the club coming from the playoffs that he played in his championship in his country. After that, he had even the chance to play another full match,” said the Downs mentor.

"So, he arrived, he showed capacity, physicality, he showed capacity obviously to understand the guidelines, the bigger principles of our game, we experienced that in the camp. We gave him an opportunity to play, he gave a good answer.

"Obviously that we are asking simple things from him so that he can perform and basically he needs to position himself to finalise our plays because we have a lot of plays. So, we need to have a finisher and he did well - I'm happy for him.

With competition for places set to be even stiffer in attack, the Portuguese tactician has embraced the selection dilemma among his four centre-forwards.

“We have very hard competition in the front. Lebo [Mothiba] also today [Monday] we could line him up for the first time, which is fantastic because he's showing consistency now in training, being able to train consistently,” Cardoso added.

"And then we have still Iqraam [Rayners] and Peter [Shalulile] that are quality and qualified players. So, it's a good headache for me, big headache. What is important is that everybody understands that success on a football player is always a project on a medium, long-term.

"So, not being on the bench or in the squad today doesn't mean that the players are not important. We need the four of them and we still have Bennet [Mokoena], of course, in a different dimension, but a player we believe for the future.