Rob Edwards will be hoping to increase the goal output at Wolves, and Tolu Arokodare is a player he’ll hope can step up.
Tolu Arokodare was Wolves’ final signing of the summer window, arriving from Genk in a £24 million transfer deal.
He was brought in as cover and competition for Jorgen Strand Larsen, who had been kept from the clutches of Newcastle United at the end of the window.
Unfortunately, Arokodare hasn’t really hit the ground running at Molineux yet.
He’s scored a couple of good goals in the Carabao Cup.
But Arokodare has been one of the least used players in Wolves’ squad so far, and he’ll be hoping the arrival of Rob Edwards will be the catalyst for him.
Last night, Arokodare had the chance to catch the eye of his manager from afar for Nigeria – but it was a night to forget for the Wolves striker.
Nigerian media unimpressed with Tolu Arokodare
Arokodare won his 10th cap for his country last night, but it was ultimately a disappointing evening – both for him and the Super Eagles.
They missed out on qualification for the World Cup after losing to DR Congo on penalties, after the game had finished 1-1.
Arokodare started on the bench, but was introduced on 77 minutes, replacing Alex Iwobi.
Unfortunately, Arokodare struggled to make an impact.
The Nigerian publication Soccernet rated Arokodare 5.7/10, saying of him: “Standing at 197cm, it’s rather surprising that the Wolverhampton Wanderers striker is less of a threat than Victor Osimhen in aerial situations, and even in hold-up play.
“He barely put a foot right, and the only chance he had couldn’t be directed on target. After replacing Alex Iwobi in the 77th minute, the former Genk man was withdrawn for Chidozie Awaziem in the 115th minute.”
All Nigeria Soccer also criticised the Wolves man. They gave him a 3/10 for his display, saying: “Arokodare offered little after coming on in the second half, failing to impress during his short spell on the pitch.”
Tolu could benefit from Rob Edwards’ arrival at Wolves
Nigeria fans were also very critical of Arokodare last night, and it seems it was a night to forget for the big man.
The fact he was also taken off before the penalty shootout was a strange one as well. You would think, as a striker who can finish really well, he would have been itching to take one and therefore would not have come off. Hopefully there was no injury.
Tolu Arokodare was confident he would suit the Premier League
But Arokodare will now come back to Wolves and hope to catch Edwards’ eye. This, before Arokodare heads off to AFCON.
Edwards used two strikers at Middlesbrough in around half the games he managed this season, which may well point to a potential striker partnership with Strand Larsen.
He didn’t get too many minutes under Vitor Pereira, but hopefully the arrival of Edwards can help him to kick on now.