Thu Nov 26, 2015 8:01 am
Adam Le Fondre is hoping he has staked a claim for a return to the starting line-up for Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship clash with MK Dons at Molineux (3pm).
An impressive impact from the substitute’s bench including setting up the equaliser at Ipswich, and two goals previously in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Liverpool, will have handed Head Coach Kenny Jackett a pleasing selection dilemma as he mulls over his attacking options ahead of Saturday’s game.
Jackett has already praised Le Fondre’s attitude in terms of the way he has gone about his business as he aims to force his way back in and add to the three goals scored already this season.
“Any player wants to be involved and I have had limited minutes recently,” he says.
“So when you do get an opportunity that is when you have to try and show the gaffer that you are ready and can make an impact.
“When you are in the squad or the 18 you have to show that you are willing to earn that starting place and what you can do if you get it.
“So when I came on at Ipswich it was about trying to push myself forward and hopefully I have given the gaffer something to think about.
“I have come here wanting to play and the gaffer knows that and the attitude I have shown in training and in taking my chances backs that up.
“It was good to get a game in the behind-closed-doors friendly with Liverpool and get a couple of goals.
“I want to play games and I want to score goals but ultimately the main thing that is important is for the team to be doing well and be as far up the league as possible, fighting for promotion.
“We all want to be higher than where we are but sometimes that happens in football.
“We just need to galvanise everything now ahead of a really important and busy period over the next few weeks.
“All the squad will be needed to contribute because there are so many games over Christmas in such a short space of time that you lose players here and there.
“Then you’re into January and what happens there happens in terms of where the squad is at.”
Wolves will welcome MK Dons on Saturday aiming to try and build on two solid performances and points gleaned from tough tussles against Burnley and Ipswich.
But Le Fondre knows there can be no let-up against a visiting side which won at Molineux almost two years ago and will be keen to pick up points themselves to climb the table.
“In the last two games there hasn’t really been anything between the teams,” he says.
“There hasn’t been too much in the games, not many chances either, and both well contested.
“The Ipswich game was a proper Championship game, about regains, working the defenders and trying to get in behind and stretch the pitch.
“They have been two evenly matched games and we have picked up a point in each and we need to use that now as a good base.
“We need to perform now against MK Dons because they are not going to lie down – no one does in this league.
“We have to get back to Molineux, put on a performance and hopefully win the game.
“There is never any complacency in these games because we know everyone in the Championship can do well.
“MK Dons did really well last season and came up with over 90 points I think.
“They had a good quality team and will be confident they can climb the table.
“We will have to be right on our game to get the right result.”
For Le Fondre he will be hoping to relish the competition for places up front and continue to make a positive impact whether from the start or from the bench.
He said: “We have got players in the squad who can create chances and score goals and Benik was the leading scorer in the country last season.
“It is always important to have competition for places and we all want to play, myself included.
“I think when I have linked up with Benik it has worked well and I have been behind a few of his goals.
“I have also chipped in with a few myself and want to get more.
“It is all about doing well as a team and overall we need to do whatever we can to win games. "