It all started as a conversation within the Forge FC coaching staff.

Watching 21-year-old Kwasi Poku in training over the years, he had proven to be one of the best finishers on the team. Deployed mostly as a wide player down the left during his time in Hamilton, be that as a fullback, wingback or winger — they wondered aloud whether his talents might be well-suited to playing striker.

So when regular strikers Jordan Hamilton and Terran Campbell were injured ahead of one of Forge’s biggest matches of the season, the second leg of their Canadian Championship quarter-final against CF Montréal, they put that hypothetical to the test. In the 24th minute of that May 22 match at Stade Saputo, Poku broke in behind the Montréal backline and sent a shot past keeper Sebastian Breza. The goal ended up being the winner on the night, as Forge secured a spot in the Canadian Championship semifinal.

Poku hasn’t looked back since, scoring four goals and adding two assists during a tremendous June of 2024. He was named the league’s Player of the Month on Wednesday for his performances.

“I think I’ve always thought of myself as more of an attacker, and the striker role plays to my strengths,” said Poku earlier this month.

Those strengths go well beyond the goalscoring, which has been impressive in its own right. During his month-and-a-bit leading the line for Forge, Poku has also demonstrated his tremendous holdup play, pressing ability, intelligence in making runs in behind and quality at creating opportunities and space for Forge’s other lethal attacking players.

“[I’ve liked] the confidence of what he’s doing there, being more comfortable playing there, and then just constantly trying to get better at certain things, through training itself, and through discussions we’re having with the coaching team,” said Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis. “He’s got a lot of intelligence to play that position. … I think his workrate has been excellent there, and he’s probably one of the best players in the team at finishing in and around the goal, and through all his years here. Now he’s showing it a little bit closer in the central axis.”

That finishing ability has been demonstrated in a multitude of ways across this month, from close range, one-touch, with both feet, and even an audacious chip to complete a brace against Valour.

Poku’s four goals in June, came from a solid nine shots on target and 1.56 expected goals demonstrating the consistency with which he was able to get in good positions and back himself to make attempts on goal.

Another reason Forge have loved the work Poku is doing as a striker is his ability to give them more verticality and make runs in behind that stretch opposing defences. This not only creates a threat in behind the opposing backline, but also drags defenders back, creating pockets of space for Forge’s other attackers. A perfect example of this came against York United back on June 1.

On a pair of runs in behind, first in the eighth minute and then in the 33rd minute, Poku stretches the York United backline, creating a pocket of space for Tristan Borges in behind that he then turns and plays the ball into. On the first occasion, Borges sends a cross to Béni Badibanga which is ultimately blocked. The second sequence sees him score an unbelievable goal in the pocket of space created by Poku’s run. While that shot was pretty low percentage, the time and space he has on the ball could have also seen him play in four other teammates, just based on how stretched and disorganized Poku’s run made York.

The ability to use his 6-foot-3 frame and dribbling quality to hold up the ball and connect the Forge attack is another strength that has made him so effective at leading the line for Forge. On top of his two assists, he created six chances and played 32 successful passes in the final third during the month of June.

His holdup play has also been excellent, as Poku completed an outstanding 82.6 per cent of his passes this past month, rarely losing the ball when he had it under control even in tight spaces in the attacking third. Here is a look at some of the different ways he used those attributes to create chances this past month.

He has also shown a tireless work rate up top, willing to pressure opponents consistently into mistakes and use the attributes he developed as a fullback to win the ball back in dangerous positions high up the pitch. He won possession seven times in the final third this month alone.

As with any other striker, the test for whether Poku lasts at this position long-term will be whether or not he keep up his consistency in front of goal. This is especially true when the league’s all-time leading goalscorer, Terran Campbell, and the experienced Jordan Hamilton return to full fitness.

What is clear, however, is that this past month demonstrated the surface is only just being scratched in terms of Poku’s talent. Still just 21, he is surely the front-runner at the moment for Best U-21 Canadian Player after being a nominee last season. His ability to thrive in and adapt to so many different positions for this team is making him a vital piece of this Forge side this year.

All highlights courtesy of OneSoccer