(Image via www.wolves.co.uk)
As the Icelandic striker returns to Wolves from his loan spell at Molde, Sam Lambeth looks at whether the forward deserves another chance at Molineux.
In the summer of 2012, Wolves embraced the continental as a raft of overseas players came into the fray, under the instructions of the team’s first Scandinavian manager, Stale Solbakken. The poster boy and marquee signing was Bjorn Sigurdarson, joining for £2.5million in what Solbakken considered a coup, saying in a year’s time he’d be too expensive to sign.
That gambit, however, didn’t come to fruition, and two years later Sigurdarson has been plying his trade back in Norway for Molde. Shipped out by current gaffer Kenny Jackett in January, ‘Siggy’ is now set to return, with 19 months left on his contract. After some niggling injuries and stop-start performances, it’s unlikely Molde will be offering him a permanent deal. So, with this in mind, does Jackett give Sigurdarson another chance to shine?
Kenny has mentioned in the press he’d be willing to give the strong striker another chance if he showed the attitude and desire, also adding he felt Siggy didn’t take his chances when they were presented last time. Out of Solbakken’s foreign exports, Sigurdarson was one of the more promising outlets – he had pace, a great build and wasn’t bad on the ball. Although he wasn’t prolific enough, he had the potential and his goals were well taken and well placed.
In a way, he was a victim of circumstance in League One – it was expected the partnership with for that season would have been Siggy and Leigh Griffiths, with Kevin Doyle moving on. When the Irishman stayed put, he naturally slotted in, leaving Sigurdarson on the bench. If he wasn’t being an impact sub, he was being placed on the right wing, something former managers Solbakken and Dean Saunders also did. It was surprising three managers tried this method, however, as it was clear Siggy was better in the centre rather than out wide.
Come January, all three of those strikers were moved on, with Sigudarson spending most his December presumably watching Gillette Soccer Saturday. Whilst it seemed he never got to grips with the physicality of the English game, he was by no means a true flop – he showed promise, but it was taking him far too long to blossom.
With Danny Graham now signed on loan, Wolves have a few strikers to choose from. But with Leon Clarke out his depth and Nouha Dicko shaking off injuries, Siggy has a chance to come back, prove his worth and get back into first-team contention. Let’s hope he takes it and shows he’s ready to be a force in English football. Best dust off the alice band.
Sam Lambeth
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