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'Burned brightly but not for long' - Ex-Arsenal ace fades in first Brighton loan

Brighton youngster Amario Cozier-Duberry initially "burned brightly" on loan at Blackburn Rovers but then faded as the season wore on.

That is the view of Blackburn's Lancashire Telegraph reporter Elliott Jackson, who closely followed the winger's progress in his 23 appearances for the Championship side in 2024/25.

A return of one goal and no assists in that time does not make for good reading for the former Arsenal man, who joined Albion last July.

Ahead of another loan stint, this time for League One promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers, Jackson has given The Argus the lowdown on the 20-year-old's Ewood Park stint.

1) How would you sum up his loan spell at Blackburn?

Cozier-Duberry burned brightly but not for very long. His first start against Luton Town was eye-catching, scoring the opening goal and lighting Ewood Park up.

However, those displays were few and far between. As the season wore on, his minutes and thus impact dried up. The mid-season change of manager (John Eustace to Valerien Ismael) didn't help things and there were a few niggly injuries along the way which stunted his development.

2) What parts of his game stood out, and what does he need to work on?

Cozier-Duberry is clearly very talented. He's a direct dribbler and can beat men at ease. He can shoot off both feet, too, which is an asset.

His ball retention was an issue at times. Although wide players naturally take risks, he was guilty of losing the ball cheaply in deeper areas.

3) Does he need another loan before trying to make the grade at Brighton?

Yes, he's definitely not ready for the Premier League. He's only young and will no doubt benefit from his time at Rovers. A second Championship loan could be beneficial. He only played on the right wing, often cutting inside.

4) Can you see him playing at a Premier League team one day?

He has the natural ability but it is very hard to predict how a player will develop when they're so young. He has a good attitude and is clearly talented, which gives him half a chance.

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