Nigeria international Tolu Arokodare admits he has not had as many starts as he hoped since joining Wolverhampton Wanderers, Soccernet.ng reports.
However, the Super Eagles striker insists he fully understands why he has had to wait for his chance at the Premier League club.
The Nigerian arrived from Genk in the summer without a proper pre-season and has been forced to build match sharpness in the middle of a Premier League storm.
Wolves’ struggles in front of goal have only deepened the pressure. No Wolves player has scored more than once across their opening 12 league games, a run matched by only four clubs in the competition’s history. The Old Gold have managed just seven goals in that period, leaving them anchored in the bottom three ahead of Sunday’s West Midlands derby at Aston Villa.
Despite the crisis, Arokodare has stayed upbeat and says both former manager Vitor Pereira and new boss Rob Edwards have been transparent with him about his role.
“I haven’t had many chances, but I understand why completely,” Arokodare told Express and Star.
“I had good conversations with Vitor Pereira, and he explained to me perfectly. I’m still new to the league, and I have to be patient and learn, which I am. If I have to stay out of the team and learn, I am OK with it. The new coach, Rob, has spoken with me, and he has told me what he wants from me, and I just have to keep doing it.”
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Tolu Arokodare locks in as Wolves seek derby spark
Arokodare was given a start in Edwards’ first match in charge, and while Wolves failed to create much against Crystal Palace, the manager said he was impressed with the forward’s work across the week.
“Tolu’s done really well this week for us, and I’ve liked him, and I thought he worked extremely hard today,” Edwards said after the encounter.
“We’ll get more from him the fitter he gets. He’s not at full power I don’t think quite yet. But he worked really, really hard for the hour or so that he was on… I’m looking forward to getting more from him.”
Arokodare’s physicality helped Wolves defend set pieces more convincingly, and his two goals this season have shown how dangerous he can be with proper service. The challenge, however, is supply. Creativity has been an ongoing issue, and Wolves will need more invention if they are to climb out of relegation trouble.
Sunday brings added weight: Edwards returns to Villa Park, Arokodare prepares for his first West Midlands derby, and Wolves pursue their first league win of the season. Yet the striker insists the best approach is simplicity.
Anything can happen in a derby but for Wolves, sharpening their attacking edge might matter most of all.