Wycombe Wanderers: Honest assessment shows Bristol City import can fill void from 2024 exit - View | OneFootball

Wales defender Joe Low has proven to be the perfect replacement for the departed Chris Forino

Two years ago, the name Joe Low was relatively unheard of. After coming through the ranks at Bristol City, the son of former footballer Josh Low spent 2021-22 on loan at Eastleigh, but was recalled due to strong performances. Fast-forward to today, the Welshman is an established part of Wycombe Wanderers's furniture, having switched from Ashton Gate.

Wycombe suffered a real kick in the teeth this summer, as B-team graduate Chris Forino departed for Bolton Wanderers when his contract expired. However, it seems his successor was already at the club.

Whilst the Chairboys have struggled defensively so far this season, Low has still managed to shine with some real commanding performances at the back. This quickly dashed thoughts of missing Forino, as the 22-year-old is beginning to fill the void left by the Saint-Lucian.

Signing Low in 2023 was an incredibly smart piece of business

Benji Walker (@benjiwalkerphoto)

The Robins Academy graduate spent the second half of 2022-23 on loan at Walsall, where he caught the eye of clubs higher up the pyramid. After only making a handful of appearances for Bristol City's first-team, Low was looking for a fresh start in his career.

Matt Bloomfield had been keen on signing the centre-back whilst he was manager of Colchester United, and his interest didn't cool when he took over Wycombe later that year. Eager to land Low's signature, the Chairboys boss took him on trial that summer. He impressed in a match against Arsenal's under-21s and caught his manager's eye in training.

With there seemingly being no future at Ashton Gate for the Welsh youngster, the Buckinghamshire outfit managed to take advantage of this, bringing him over to Adams Park permanently.

This would be a stroke of genius by Bloomfield, and Low quickly endeared himself to his new fans, scoring twice on his full league debut. He went on to make 34 league appearances that season, scoring four goals. Fans quickly realised the 22-year-old was a special talent, as his composure and confidence were second to none.

Thanks to this, Low found himself on the shopping lists of many clubs come January. League One rivals Blackpool came knocking, but the Chairboys didn't need to sell their star defender, so that bid was swiftly turned down.

A strong start to 2024/25 despite Wycombe's defensive struggles

Wanderers are in good form, and currently unbeaten in their last three league matches, having won two and drawn the other. Their attack looks dangerous, averaging two goals per game, but the defence has struggled, conceding a similar average. Mistakes have cost the Chairboys a few sloppy goals, which is a massive frustration for Bloomfield.

Despite this, Low has looked imperious at the back so far and has been a standout in the defensive unit. Having gained a first full season's worth of EFL experience in 2023/24, the Welshman is looking more confident than ever before.

Wycombe's number 17 is also relishing learning from the tough battles he faces in League One, developing his game week-in-week-out. Speaking after his side's 2-1 win over Northampton Town, Low told the media about his match-long battle with Callum Morton, saying: "He's a strong runner in behind, deceivably strong as well with how he holds it up. It was a good challenge, but I dealt with him at times today."

With plenty of different types of attackers, Low faces a different challenge each week. Morton, who he faced on Saturday, is a different player to the likes of Jordan Rhodes who he played in the match prior. This level of adaptability has been crucial for the 22-year-old, as he continues to learn.

It's hard to believe Low has just a year and a half of EFL football under his belt when watching him. The Wales international looks like he's been around for years thanks to his confidence. Fortunately, this is just what Wycombe needed, as a key departure in the summer left fans worried.

Benji Walker (@benjiwalkerphoto)

Fans were left gutted in the summer, as beloved defender Forino departed the Chairboys upon the expiration of his contract. The Saint-Lucian international joined from Loughborough University in 2021, following a successful trial period. He went on to establish himself as a first-team regular later that year, making nearly 100 league appearances for the Blues before his departure.

The perfect example of a modern centre-back, Forino offered pace, composure on the ball, aerial prowess and superb strength to the Wycombe backline. It's hard to come by a defender with all these qualities in the lower leagues, but it seems Bloomfield struck gold with Low, as these key attributes are something he also possesses.

With the 40-year-old's possession-based style of play, having defenders who can play out from the back and also keep attacking opponents quiet is key for this Wycombe side. Forino was formidable at the back end of 2023/24 for the Chairboys, which coincided with a rise up the table.

When the B-team graduate departed for Bolton, fans were left scratching their heads, wondering how he could be replaced. Little did they know, the answer was right in front of their eyes the whole time. So far this season, Low has proven to be a very similar type of defender to Forino, and has all the qualities the former Wycombe man showed during his stint in HP12.

Still only 22 years old, Low will continue to learn and develop his game. Having made his senior Wales debut, the defender will have his sights set on becoming a firm fixture in Craig Bellamy's squad, as he will be gunning to qualify and play at the World Cup in 2026.