David Costa

David Costa is a Bronze Squad Player whose value lies in being ready when called upon. With no career trophies on his record, he is still building his body of work rather than presenting a finished case. Our verdict is straightforward: the role is modest, but the route towards earning greater trust is clearly defined.

Four appearances and 282 minutes provide a limited but positively growing sample. Costa has yet to turn those opportunities into a goal or an assist, making it difficult to argue that attacking influence is part of his established role. His clearest quality is Workrate. The willingness to stay involved and carry out a defined job gives this profile its strongest point of interest. His form sits above the underlying level of his season, although that lift has not produced a decisive contribution in the final third. He has instead maintained a consistent level, which fits the picture of a player trying to become dependable rather than spectacular. The SQUAD PLAYER badge captures that identity well: a useful option who can do a job when selected. Reliability is still emerging, so the small sample deserves patience. More minutes are needed before his limits, strengths and suitability for a larger role can be judged with real confidence.

The next step is not about chasing headlines. It is about turning effort into repeatable match value. Our take is that his role will remain narrow without greater attacking output, but steady performances can still make him a useful squad option. Consistency, rather than a single standout display, is the route forward.