The general consensus at Wembley Stadium yesterday afternoon was that Abdul Abdulmalik would be an EFL player next season, regardless of whether Boreham Wood won promotion.
Perhaps non-league’s hottest property, Abdulmalik, did all he could to try and inspire the Wood to victory over Rochdale in the National League promotion final. As it transpired, even he couldn’t stop Dale’s late show once again, with the regular season runners-up prevailing on penalties.
Why Is Abdulmalik So Highly Regarded?
However, the 23-year-old has put himself in the shop window following a scintillating season. He was undoubtedly the best player on the pitch under the arch, producing one of the finest performances in recent memory on football’s finest stage. Causing Dale all kinds of issues all afternoon, his work on the left flank allowed Matt Rush to open the scoring midway through the first period.
On loan Manchester City goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff, who also starred for Rochdale, had to be at his best to deny the flashy winger with a fine fingertip save. Ethan Ebanks-Landell was next to deny Abdulmalik with a fine piece of defending with the goal at his mercy, but it was only a matter of time before the former England youth international found his way onto the scoresheet.
Sure enough, with 20 minutes of the showpiece event remaining, Abdulmalik twisted and turned inside the penalty area before somehow finding the far corner through a whole host of bodies. After Dale pulled a goal back through Tyler Smith, Wood boss Luke Garrard decided to take his key man off with eight minutes of normal time remaining.
It was a bold choice that ultimately didn’t pay dividends, as Rochdale’s late show pulled through once more, scoring with seconds of stoppage time remaining through Mani Dieseruvwe. Dale went on to progress on spot-kicks. Even if the Hertfordshire side did win promotion to the EFL for the first time in their history, they were unlikely to keep Abdulmalik, given the interest from further up the pyramid.
Who Have Been Linked Already?
A host of clubs were reportedly in attendance at the national stadium yesterday, and much of the focus will have been surrounding Abdulmalik. Recently relegated Leicester City were one such example, while fellow League One outfits Peterborough United, Doncaster Rovers and Plymouth Argyle also sent club representatives to look at the finest talent that the fifth tier has to offer.
Leicester feel like a side difficult to judge given their financial uncertainties, so it may be best for Abdulmalik to stay clear of the Foxes. However, there’s one side that immediately jumps out from that list: Peterborough. Posh are well-renowned for signing players from the lower leagues, developing and selling them for a tidy profit. Despite their struggles on the pitch this season, surviving relegation in the final week of the campaign, Peterborough will be looking for a statement signing to drive them back towards the upper echelons of the third tier.
And the former Millwall youth product, who ended the season with 25 goal contributions across all competitions, may just be their man.
