UEFA.com's weekly wonderkid: Jean-Kévin Augustin

After scoring three goals in four pre-season matches for Paris Saint-Germain, Jean-Kévin Augustin made his Ligue 1 debut on the opening day of the campaign. The 18-year-old academy product was then preferred to Javier Pastore in Laurent Blanc's starting XI for the week-two fixture against Ajaccio. UEFA.com finds out more ...

Name: Jean-Kévin Augustin
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Debut: 8 April 2015 v St-Étienne (French Cup semi-final)
Position: striker
Nationality: French
Date of birth: 16 June 1997
Preferred foot: right
Height: 177cm

They say …
"He's good – he deserves to be playing tonight (against Gazélec) after a successful pre-season. There's a lot of competition for a spot up front, so he needs to be even better."
Laurent Blanc, Paris coach

"He is very shy – he doesn't speak much, but he thinks a lot about football, about his job and about his development. He knows exactly what he wants."
David Bechkoura, Paris reserve-team coach

Background …
Augustin was born in Paris XVI (the arondissement where the Parc des Princes stands) and had his first taste of football at Plaisir FO in the suburbs. He eventually joined Paris – via AS Boulogne-Billancourt – aged 12 and scored four goals in five games as they bowed out at the group stage of last season's UEFA Youth League. His stock rose further still over the summer, prompting Blanc not to loan him out but instead to install him as third-choice striker behind Zlatan Ibrahimović and Edinson Cavani.

Playing style …
A true No9, he says himself that he is a player who likes to take risks. Augustin also credits Ibrahimović for teaching him to keep his cool in front of goal rather than always blasting the ball. He is fast, powerful and explosive and is not afraid to chance his arm from range. By his own admission, needs to work on his aerial ability.

Shades of …
His touch and style are reminiscent of Jean-Pierre Papin; he makes finishing look so simple. His power, meanwhile, recalls former Nigeria striker Daniel Amokachi; Augustin is not especially tall, but is incredibly fast and unpredictable over ten metres.

Eureka moment …
After ten games spent on the bench, Augustin was at last handed his debut in the 88th minute of last term's French Cup semi-final against St-Étienne. Moments later, he teed up Ibrahimović for the Sweden striker to complete his hat-trick and wrap up a 4-1 triumph. Augustin's first professional contract followed in July, the month after he turned 18.

Best-case scenario …
Augustin cannot expect too much involvement this season, but Paris's heavy workload will ensure he will be required for the odd cameo at least. Becoming a regular at such an ambitious club will take some doing – homegrown strikers Jean-Christophe Bahebeck and Hervin Ongenda have failed in recent years – but he is heading in the right direction.

He says …
"Laurent Blanc has given me some encouragement. I'm happy about that, but I don't pay much attention to what the media says. At the moment, I work, work, work. However, even if I know what is expected from me, I don't feel the pressure."

Jean-Kévin Augustin celebrates with Thiago Silva after the latter's goal against Ajaccio©Getty Images