Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira offered a positive assessment of Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare’s Premier League debut performance, Footynaija.com reports.
It was not the dream start Arokodare might have hoped for as Wolverhampton Wanderers slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
The Nigerian striker, who joined Wolves from Belgian side Genk on transfer deadline day, was handed his debut by Pereira and led the line from the start. Despite his efforts, Wolves’ losing streak continued after another debutant Nick Woltemade scored the decisive goal for Newcastle in the 29th minute.
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Arokodare, fresh from international duty where he netted Nigeria’s winner against Rwanda in a World Cup qualifier, lasted 66 minutes before being replaced by Jhon Arias. While he could not make a telling impact in front of goal, his manager was encouraged by what he saw.
“After, we need a striker. We had one training with Tolu,” Pereira told the club’s official website.
“He’s a different player, he’s physically strong, he gives us the possibility to play long ball and to hold this ball and to give time for us to appear. He did well, of course he is not in the physical condition to do better.”
The defeat leaves Wolves rooted to the bottom of the table, still searching for their first points of the campaign, while Newcastle climbed to ninth with five points.
For Arokodare, the outing may not have produced the result Wolves fans craved, but his physicality and presence up front offered glimpses of what he could bring to the side once he reaches full match fitness.
With more training sessions under his belt and better service from midfield, the Super Eagles forward will hope to quickly become a key figure in Wolves’ fight for survival this season.
