Stoke City full-back Junior Tchamadeu has all the attributes to make further progress in the game, according to boss Mark Robins.
The 21-year-old will only be available for the Potters' next two Championship games before heading off to the African Cup of Nations to play for Cameroon.
"When you look at the Championship as a whole there aren't many better, if any," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.
"He's got everything to be a real success both for us and Cameroon and we're absolutely proud of him but we will miss him because when you have a player of that stature and that quality then you are going to miss them without a doubt.