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As Neil Lennon hunts for the number nine to ease his goal-scoring concerns, he needs to get creative in the short-term to stay in touch with the Championship’s high-flyers.
Though pleased with the defensive resolve shown at Reading, there is no hiding the Wanderers boss' growing impatience with the lack of cutting edge.
The Whites last three outings against Blackpool, Huddersfield Town and at the Madejski Stadium have been sufficiently tight to prompt Lennon into a fairly definitive warning.
“That was the first game since I’ve been here that we haven’t scored in,” he said. “And I’m annoyed about that. It had better not become a trend.”
Wanderers’ strikers can consider themselves warned.
But as he prepares to face in-form Ipswich Town this weekend and attempts to reel in more ground on the top half, Lennon’s striking options look anything but obvious.
Craig Davies – who has led the line well in recent weeks - limped out of Saturday’s goalless draw and is rated a strong doubt with a hamstring injury.
Conor Wilkinson proved a decent replacement from the bench in what was his first taste of league football for Wanderers. But to ask the Ireland Under-21 international to start from the off as a lone striker against Mick McCarthy’s burly centre-half pairing of Luke Chambers and Christophe Berra could be asking a lot.
Lennon could look to bring in Joe Mason, who has featured only sparingly since his arrival as manager.
Sources in South Wales continue to predict he will be recalled by Cardiff in January, which may go some way to explaining Lennon’s reluctance to use him in recent weeks.
Since becoming the first Wanderers player in 12 years to score a hat-trick back in September, Mason has started just three games, and only one under Lennon.
Doubts continue over whether he is suited to playing up front alone, although a lack of options could mean the Whites boss has little choice if he is to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation which has looked so secure.
The joker in the pack is Eidur Gudjohnsen, who should be given international clearance to play after cutting a frustrated figure in the stands at the weekend.
Whether the 36-year-old Icelander is able to play more than the 30-minute cameos his manager predicts remains to be seen – but the mere mention of his name on the team-sheet will be enough to get the fans' blood pumping.
Lennon knows where his side need to improve but has four more games to negotiate before he will be able to do anything about it.
“I need that number nine, that poacher, but they are very difficult to find and everyone is looking for them,” he said at Reading.
“The back four have been superb, young Josh Vela grew into the game and Conor Wilkinson led the line well when he came on, so it augurs well for the future. But we’re working in the present and we obviously want to get better, we want to keep looking up the table and keep the play-offs in touch.”
Two wildcards who could come into play – albeit at opposite ends of the age spectrum – are Zach Clough and Emile Heskey.
Clough impressed for the development squad last week and has been on the fringes of the first team for most of the season.
With an envious scoring record at youth team and u21 level, the 19-year-old moved nearer contention when Jermaine Beckford was allowed to leave the club for Preston – and definitely has the nose for goal.
Any involvement for Heskey would more likely be after Christmas, with the former England international still being brought up to speed in training.
Lennon is yet to confirm whether his old Leicester City team-mate will, like Gudjohnsen, get a short-term deal with Wanderers but his target man profile would more likely make him a back-up to Davies.
Finding a striker able to weigh in with a regular supply of goals has been a preoccupation of every manager since Sam Allardyce was able to call on the services of Nicolas Anelka. And suffice it to say, whatever business Lennon does in January, it is not going to be funded to such a degree as the £8million Frenchman.
Names have circulated since the moment Lennon walked through the doors - Gary Hooper, Kris Commons, Danny Graham – but the desirability of Wanderers in the new year might well hinge on what the manager can get out of his existing team in the next four games.
Source
Though pleased with the defensive resolve shown at Reading, there is no hiding the Wanderers boss' growing impatience with the lack of cutting edge.
The Whites last three outings against Blackpool, Huddersfield Town and at the Madejski Stadium have been sufficiently tight to prompt Lennon into a fairly definitive warning.
“That was the first game since I’ve been here that we haven’t scored in,” he said. “And I’m annoyed about that. It had better not become a trend.”
Wanderers’ strikers can consider themselves warned.
But as he prepares to face in-form Ipswich Town this weekend and attempts to reel in more ground on the top half, Lennon’s striking options look anything but obvious.
Craig Davies – who has led the line well in recent weeks - limped out of Saturday’s goalless draw and is rated a strong doubt with a hamstring injury.
Conor Wilkinson proved a decent replacement from the bench in what was his first taste of league football for Wanderers. But to ask the Ireland Under-21 international to start from the off as a lone striker against Mick McCarthy’s burly centre-half pairing of Luke Chambers and Christophe Berra could be asking a lot.
Lennon could look to bring in Joe Mason, who has featured only sparingly since his arrival as manager.
Sources in South Wales continue to predict he will be recalled by Cardiff in January, which may go some way to explaining Lennon’s reluctance to use him in recent weeks.
Since becoming the first Wanderers player in 12 years to score a hat-trick back in September, Mason has started just three games, and only one under Lennon.
Doubts continue over whether he is suited to playing up front alone, although a lack of options could mean the Whites boss has little choice if he is to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation which has looked so secure.
The joker in the pack is Eidur Gudjohnsen, who should be given international clearance to play after cutting a frustrated figure in the stands at the weekend.
Whether the 36-year-old Icelander is able to play more than the 30-minute cameos his manager predicts remains to be seen – but the mere mention of his name on the team-sheet will be enough to get the fans' blood pumping.
Lennon knows where his side need to improve but has four more games to negotiate before he will be able to do anything about it.
“I need that number nine, that poacher, but they are very difficult to find and everyone is looking for them,” he said at Reading.
“The back four have been superb, young Josh Vela grew into the game and Conor Wilkinson led the line well when he came on, so it augurs well for the future. But we’re working in the present and we obviously want to get better, we want to keep looking up the table and keep the play-offs in touch.”
Two wildcards who could come into play – albeit at opposite ends of the age spectrum – are Zach Clough and Emile Heskey.
Clough impressed for the development squad last week and has been on the fringes of the first team for most of the season.
With an envious scoring record at youth team and u21 level, the 19-year-old moved nearer contention when Jermaine Beckford was allowed to leave the club for Preston – and definitely has the nose for goal.
Any involvement for Heskey would more likely be after Christmas, with the former England international still being brought up to speed in training.
Lennon is yet to confirm whether his old Leicester City team-mate will, like Gudjohnsen, get a short-term deal with Wanderers but his target man profile would more likely make him a back-up to Davies.
Finding a striker able to weigh in with a regular supply of goals has been a preoccupation of every manager since Sam Allardyce was able to call on the services of Nicolas Anelka. And suffice it to say, whatever business Lennon does in January, it is not going to be funded to such a degree as the £8million Frenchman.
Names have circulated since the moment Lennon walked through the doors - Gary Hooper, Kris Commons, Danny Graham – but the desirability of Wanderers in the new year might well hinge on what the manager can get out of his existing team in the next four games.
Source
