The most talked about player in the English Championship at the moment is Middlesbrough Nigerian forward Chuba Akpom owing to his fantastic run in front of goal at the promotion chasing side.
Akpom has been a thorn in the flesh of defenders in the English Championship this season with 21 goals in 28 games. His amazing turnaround came under the guidance of former Manchester United star and caretaker coach Michael Carrick.
Carrick spoke about the form of the 27 year old who has since completed the switch of nationality process from England making him eligible to play for the senior national team of Nigeria. While making his point on the strengths of the forward he somehow revealed how Akpom can compliment the attack of any team.
The Super Eagles attack is currently headed by Napoli forward Victor Osimhen who has 19 goals this season for the runaway league leaders. Carrick said the fact that Akpom is a team player as seen when he passes on the chance to score a hattrick by handing the ball to his teammate rather than take the penalty shows how much he wants to play for the team ahead of himself.
Carrick said: “I don’t think it’s sacrificing, it’s just being a team player, and credit to him for that. Not many would have done that, but he understands it’s about the squad, all the boys being in a good frame of mind.
“His first penalty was a good one and it would have been easy for him to grab it. But he understands how grateful Marcus was to have a chance to score. A team player is who he is and it’s what most teams love to have”, he rounded up saying.
Osas Mahawi
