Yakubu Aiyegbini has always been somewhat of an enigma. Undoubtably one of the best natural finishers in British football, he has often carried this along with a bulk to make Neville Southall blush, yet apparently without the passion to spend the half-time interval stropping by a post.
Wherever he has gone, the 28 year old Nigeria international has always received mixed reviews. His ability to score goals has never been questioned, but he has often been accused of laziness, or worse, not caring.
As such, despite his obvious ability,the former Everton striker has rarely been a fan’s favourite. On loan at Leicester last season, he was often critiscised for not chasing balls down, harrying defenders or ‘giving his all,’ although his record of 11 goals in 19 games speaks for itself. I’ve always preferred my strikers to save their energy for scoring rather than chasing hopeless balls, yet I can understand the complaints.
At Blackburn, this could change. Lacking any real stars beyond their back-line (not including the impressive Hoilett), Rovers need a man to believe in during what could very likely be a relegation-dogged season, a man, who, when the going gets tough, they can rely on to help drag them from the mire of potential defeat.
In a relegation battle, when the chances come, you need a man who can put them away. Yakubu, as shown against Arsenal, can always guarantee one thing; goals.
Sometimes, a player just needs to be appreciated, to feel loved; to feel that he is invaluable to a team effort. As a supposed mercenary, he has never really had the position or respect to create such a bond with a club. The best thing that Steve Kean could give to him is an arm round the shoulder and a guarantee that he is the main man at the club. Like the mercurial Mark Viduka, Yakubu is at his best when confident and happy; two things, that, for him, have been unfortunately tied and too often lacking.
To get the Yak happy, he must be confident; to get him confident, the manager must play him; for the manager to play him, he must be confident. All intricately related, all vital to getting the best out of him. As such, Kean must show absolute faith in him, even when things aren’t going as well as they did in the 4-3 victory against the fragile Gunners. He just needs that encouragement, that absolute belief, and then Blackburn could a 15+ goal a season striker on their books.
As Peter Odemwingie showed last season for West Brom, that can be the difference between mid-table and relegation.
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He’ll do o.k until he finds the nearest Greggs. Then it’s all down hill.