Owuraku Ampofo gives LAST the lowdown on CalebYirenkyi!

LAST has been chatting to top Ghanaian journalist and broadcaster Owuraku Ampofo to get the lowdown on our new star Caleb Yirenkyi.

Owuraku is the sports host at TV3 Ghana and can give us the inside track on our new number 8.

We asked him about his status in Ghana, his best position, the influence of SFL and BTA and his World Cup amongst other things.

Thanks to Owuraku for taking the time to answer LAST's questions. You can follow his observations, news and stats on X, Instagram and TikTok. Over 600000 followers can't be wrong!

Hi Owuraku. Thanks for chatting! When did Caleb first start getting attention in Ghana?

Caleb broke into the limelight in the 2024/25 season. He started with the Nordsjaelland U19 team but his impressive performances saw him being promoted to the senior team by February 2025. That was when people started to ask questions on who this kid was because Danish media were comparing him to the great Michael Essien.

How highly was he regarded in Ghana before the World Cup? Was he already seen as a potential star, or did the World Cup change perceptions of him?

I think there was real expectation he will play a prominent role at the World Cup. The issue was when he first joined the national team under Otto Addo he was being deployed as a right back and mostly played well. However, most Ghanaians wanted his energy in the middle of the park so when a new coach was appointed a couple of months to the World Cup that was the expectation. However, the level of responsibility he took in the midfield was quite surprising. He was brave on the ball and never stopped running. And from nowhere he added goals to his game scoring against Wales and Panama. I think he was a prospect heading into the World Cup but now he is one of the first names on the starting sheet for Ghana.

You've followed Caleb for a while what is the one thing Coventry fans will quickly notice about him that doesn't necessarily show up in his statistics? We’ve noticed his work rate and that assist against Plymouth was sublime. Is he known for that?

Yes he’s definitely known for his work rate. He covers a lot of ground. I think from watching him closely at the World Cup, he seems quite but speaking to him, I noticed he has a positive mindset. He’s strongly rooted in his faith and always ready to give his best. He’s humble and a quick learner. On the assist, those who watched him from his young days won’t be surprised because he started out as a number 10 and was quite silky at that.

What is Caleb's best position? If Frank Lampard wanted to get the absolute best out of him, where would you play him?

One thing Norsdjaelland usually do is to teach their stars how to play different positions. So he’s been tried at right back, center back and in midfield. I think for the traits he has and his second win, playing as a number 8 (box to box) is his best fit. If he operates in a double pivot with a number 6 who sits then that’s even better.

What does he need to improve before he can become a genuinely top Premier League midfielder?

I think he needs to tame his aggression a bit sometimes. He wants to win every tackle which can be a good thing but perhaps he also needs to under risk assessment. Sometimes it’s better to guide an opponent into a zone to trap them than to go full force into a heavy challenge and end up getting carded.

Caleb must have had other options other than Coventry. How important do you think Frank Lampard was in convincing Caleb to choose Coventry? Do you think Lampard is actually a particularly good manager for Caleb's development?

Frank Lampard played a key role in convincing Caleb. The pair spoke through the recommendation of Lampard’s former team mate Michael Essien, who coached Caleb at Nordsjaelland. Essien trusts Lampard and Caleb trusts Essien so it’s easy to see the connection. Yeah I think Lampard will give Caleb the freedom to grow. We’ve already seen him getting into the box a lot more in the early days at Coventry and that could also improve his productivity.

Does having Brandon Thomas-Asante at Coventry help him? They seem to have a good relationship.

Yeah they have an amazing relationship. During the World Cup, the pair were almost inseparable. Thomas-Asante even revealed Lampard called for his recommendation for Caleb’s transfer to Coventry. I think Thomas-Asante sees Caleb as his little brother and promised to look after during the World Cup so now he has the chance to do that.

That Panama goal obviously changed his profile. How did Ghanaian fans react to his World Cup performances?

I think fans were extremely impressed with his performances. To run that distance in the final minutes to score the winner against Panama was incredible and that was when he truly announced himself to the Ghanaian football fraternity.

Coventry have paid a club-record fee for him. Is there a danger that the price tag creates unrealistic expectations around a 20-year-old? Can Caleb handle the pressure of the transfer fee?

There is always that danger but Caleb is very focused. He doesn’t get distracted and indulge in the many things young players usually end up doing. He keeps his head down and works. Caleb loves to play football and always wants to give his best. He’s called baby Kante for a reason and I think he will handle the pressure well. He knows what’s at stake, has played at a World Cup so I’m sure he is relishing the opportunity of thriving in the Premier League.

Thanks Owuraku!

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