Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Vokes waiting for league chance
Saturday 23rd August 2008, 12:11PM BST.
Striker Sam Vokes insists he’s prepared to bide his time to make his mark at Wolves.
Despite his opening day equaliser at Plymouth, the 18-year-old is the only one of Wolves’ four main forwards not to have started a league game this season.
Vokes got 90 minutes on Wednesday for Wales U21′s in their 1-0 defeat against Romania. But as far as his club football is concerned, the £300,000 summer signing from Bournemouth sees the bigger picture.
He said: “I’m biding my time because at a club the size of Wolves, you have to work at it and try to force my way into the team. When I do, I have to be ready to take it.
“I’m not frustrated at all because I’ve come to a club like Wolves. Just being involved in the squad is a great feeling.
“I’ve just got to make sure I’m ready when I’m called upon. I’m ready to come on, lead the line and do what the other strikers have been doing, so I’m not disappointed.”
Vokes was relieved to get 90 minutes in midweek to keep himself sharp.
He said: “It was definitely good for me because I needed the minutes under my belt, so I can get my fitness levels up for when I’m called upon by the gaffer.”
Chris Iwelumo went into the clash at Ipswich with four goals in two games and Vokes believes the big man has set the standard.
He said: “I think Chris has set the standard because goals get you noticed. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake got the Golden Boot last season and he’s a great scorer. Andy Keogh can also get goals too.”
“The manager can’t drop Chris but that’s good for the team, because we’ve got good competition.”
Vokes believes he has already improved since joining Wolves.
He said: “I think I have improved a lot since I’ve been at Wolves, because I’m working at a different level.
“The players I train and play with and the coaches too have been great. I just need to take that to another level and push for the first team by training as hard as I can.”
Vokes has also been named in the full Wales squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Russia next month.
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