Home
Neil Lennon reckons Shola Ameobi has got something different to offer Wanderers if he decides to take a punt on the former Newcastle United striker.
The 33-year-old Nigeria international has been handed a trial with the Whites with a view to a short-term deal.
But while the prospect of signing a centre-forward whose career strike rate is nearly one goal in every five appearances has divided opinion among the fans, Lennon insists there is no harm in taking a closer look at what he can offer the club.
"He is a name but I look at the quality of the player,” he told The Bolton News. “He has freedom of contract and is available so it is worth having a look at. If we like what we see there might be business to be done.
“Obviously his age, early thirties, comes into consideration but he’s been around the highest level for a while now and he’s got a really good pedigree.
“He’s got that physical presence and experience as well so when a player of that quality comes on to the market, he is always worth a look.
“He’s only on trial, hasn’t signed. We’re thankful he’s come in and given us that chance to have a look at him and obviously he’s thankful to get the opportunity to show what he can do.
“For a big guy he’s got quite good skill and he’s got that nous around the pitch that I think we’ve lacked a little bit.
“But I think it’s well worth us having a look at him and him having a look at us.”
Ameobi was offered the chance to join Crystal Palace’s coaching staff at the end of last season but turned down Alan Pardew’s offer to extend his playing career in England.
He had trial spells with Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town and Wolves without success and will train with the Whites into next week before a decision is made.
Lennon has other options as he looks to bolster his front line and is not tied into any deal at present.
“We do have one or two irons in the fire with other players as well,” he said.
“We’re narrowing it down and it has taken a bit of time but I’d like to think I’ll have a better idea over the next couple of days.
“It’ll come down to finances as well when we sit down with Shola’s representatives. We’ve a fair idea what he wants and I think it’s within our remit.
“It helps that we’ve got the international break coming up.
"Obviously all our focus is on QPR at the moment but we’ll have him in the training ground mixing with the players and we’ll see how he interacts with them and where we go from there.”
Ameobi made his name at Newcastle and played nearly 400 games for the Magpies, including promotion from the Championship in 2010.
He had a brief spell in Turkey with Gaziantep last season but returned after just 11 games to spend the second half of last season at Palace with his former Toon boss Pardew.
Lennon will run late fitness checks on Gary Madine (foot) and Dean Moxey (toe) before naming his squad at Loftus Road but will welcome back Derik Osede from suspension and Dorian Dervite from injury.
Source
The 33-year-old Nigeria international has been handed a trial with the Whites with a view to a short-term deal.
But while the prospect of signing a centre-forward whose career strike rate is nearly one goal in every five appearances has divided opinion among the fans, Lennon insists there is no harm in taking a closer look at what he can offer the club.
"He is a name but I look at the quality of the player,” he told The Bolton News. “He has freedom of contract and is available so it is worth having a look at. If we like what we see there might be business to be done.
“Obviously his age, early thirties, comes into consideration but he’s been around the highest level for a while now and he’s got a really good pedigree.
“He’s got that physical presence and experience as well so when a player of that quality comes on to the market, he is always worth a look.
“He’s only on trial, hasn’t signed. We’re thankful he’s come in and given us that chance to have a look at him and obviously he’s thankful to get the opportunity to show what he can do.
“For a big guy he’s got quite good skill and he’s got that nous around the pitch that I think we’ve lacked a little bit.
“But I think it’s well worth us having a look at him and him having a look at us.”
Ameobi was offered the chance to join Crystal Palace’s coaching staff at the end of last season but turned down Alan Pardew’s offer to extend his playing career in England.
He had trial spells with Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town and Wolves without success and will train with the Whites into next week before a decision is made.
Lennon has other options as he looks to bolster his front line and is not tied into any deal at present.
“We do have one or two irons in the fire with other players as well,” he said.
“We’re narrowing it down and it has taken a bit of time but I’d like to think I’ll have a better idea over the next couple of days.
“It’ll come down to finances as well when we sit down with Shola’s representatives. We’ve a fair idea what he wants and I think it’s within our remit.
“It helps that we’ve got the international break coming up.
"Obviously all our focus is on QPR at the moment but we’ll have him in the training ground mixing with the players and we’ll see how he interacts with them and where we go from there.”
Ameobi made his name at Newcastle and played nearly 400 games for the Magpies, including promotion from the Championship in 2010.
He had a brief spell in Turkey with Gaziantep last season but returned after just 11 games to spend the second half of last season at Palace with his former Toon boss Pardew.
Lennon will run late fitness checks on Gary Madine (foot) and Dean Moxey (toe) before naming his squad at Loftus Road but will welcome back Derik Osede from suspension and Dorian Dervite from injury.
Source