They say ‘great men are forged in fire’. Perhaps, in the same vein, great footballers are forged by rejection. Released by West Ham United a decade ago, Sorba Thomas’ rise to international prominence should act as an inspiration to all young footballers told they cannot make the grade.
And, like when West Ham United told a 15-year-old Sorba Thomas that he ‘wasn’t good enough’, the Welsh wing wizard used Belgium’s apparent complacency during Monday’s thrilling World Cup qualifier as the fuel for a remarkable comeback.
The hosts, Thomas said at full time, showed a lack of respect for their visitors after Jeremy Doku extended Belgium’s advantage with just 27 minutes on the clock.
‘When they went 3-0 up,’ former West Ham youngster said following a remarkable seven-goal encounter, ‘we still had belief’.
And no-one epitomised that never-say-die, underdog spirit better than a man who usually produces his best football when he feels he has a point to prove.
Wales wizard Sorba Thomas shows West Ham United just how far he’s come
Success in the academy game is never a guarantee of a bright future in professional football.
While Declan Rice dominated the Young Player of the Year voting for three years running at the London Stadium, Freddie Sears, George Moncur, Sam Howes and Reece Burke would not succeed in making the step up to the elite level.
Whether the late-blooming Sorba Thomas has a future alongside Rice at the highest echelons of English football, only time will tell.
After spells with Huddersfield Town and Blackburn Rovers, Thomas returned to the Championship last week with Stoke City.
But, on the evidence of that dazzling performance against the team ranked eighth in the world by FIFA, Sorba Thomas should be gracing the Premier League stage sooner rather than later, with or without his new Staffordshire-based employers.
”Personally, it’s been one heck of a week,” Thomas beamed, following up that Stoke switch with a goal and an assist as he helped spark a remarkable Wales comeback in Brussels.
I’ve secured my future and got my first Wales goal.”
Wales fans blown away as Thomas goes toe-to-toe with Kevin de Bruyne
Thomas coolly slotted home his maiden international strike at the 18th attempt.
He would then turn provider for Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson to cap a mesmerising second-half display. A man who played non-league football with Boreham Wood after that painful West Ham snub going punch-for-punch with the great Kevin de Bruyne and very nearly emerging out victorious.
“Sorba Thomas making a late dash for the Ballon d’Or,” one Welsh fan chuckled while watching the 26-year-old not only hold his own but stand out head and shoulders above some of the finest footballers on the planet before De Bruyne had the final say in a heartbreaking conclusion.
“Not De Bruyne, not Youri Tielemans, not Jeremy Doku, not even Romelu Lukaku. Sorba Thomas, Man of the Match,” another smiles.
“Bloke was on a different level tonight. If that was the first time watching him, you’d have thought he plays in the Champions League and not the Championship!”
“Well deserved [Man of the Match award]. An outstanding performance Sorba just keeps getting better and better.”
Thankfully for Stoke City, the Potters got a deal done for Sorba Thomas a few days before he ran rings around the Belgian backline.
As for Huddersfield, accepting a fee reportedly around the £2 million mark, the League One outfit may now be wishing they had held out for another week as Stoke land an early ‘bargain of the summer’ contender.
“Stoke fans must be watching Sorba Thomas and wondering what on earth they have signed,” another fan points out. “Best game for Wales by a country mile.”
“Sorba Thomas has been absolutely brilliant this international break. Tonight was his best performance in a Wales shirt. What. A. Player.
“The man was on fire this evening!”
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