Shola Us The Goals

After an exciting two weeks of transfer talk around Portman Road with names such as Kevin Phillips, Roger Johnson, Gareth McAuley and Emile Mpenza bounded about, today sees the first piece of solid transfer news appearing with Newcastle accepting a £3.5m bid for striker Shola Ameobi – a significant sum for any Championship side to part with. Thing is: Is he any good?

He graduated out of Newcastle’s youth set-up after joining the club at 13 years old to make his senior debut for Toon in the 2000/01 season under Ipswich legend Sir Bobby Robson (who in his autobiography rated Ameobi extrememly highly) and has since made 135 starts, 95 as sub and netted 46 goals. Hardly a Ronaldo hit-rate, but an intriguing one nevertheless whilst playing for a team that has averaged a mid-table finish for the past four seasons.

More recentely, Ameobi moved to Stoke on loan, making three appearances without scoring, this of course coming after a lengthly two season spell where he barely kicked a ball thanks to a hip injury. With Stoke, Norwich, Middlesborough and MLS side Toronto interested, it seems as though there is still a demand for Ameobi’s services, with Town perhaps winning out thanks to Bobby Robson’s connections with Ipswich and of course Charlie Woods, Robson’s assistant at Newcastle and now to Jim Magilton at Portman Road who will be well aware of the player.

Although Ameobi has appeared on those three occasions for Stoke, this will be his first full year of playing at Championship level, and along with Kevin Phillips, will most definitely be an early contender with bookmakers for being top goalscorer in the division. A signing everyone in Ipswich will be happy with and the first quality out and out striker the club have had on their books since Darren Bent.

Category: Ipswich Town Team News

Tags: Ipswich Town Team News

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