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Wolves' Michael Jacobs back in Championship

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Wolves boss Kenny Jackett believes Michael Jacobs was held up by player 'traffic' at Derby County the last time he tried to prove himself in the Championship.

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But as they prepare to return to the second tier, the head coach believes the 22-year-old is ready to hit the accelerator.

Jacobs is anxious to show he can hack it at this level after a frustrating time at Derby.

Having left the Rams for just £150,000 in January following a successful loan at Molineux, the 22-year-old looked a bargain after scoring eight goals in Wolves' League One title success.

But his record is in contrast to his time in the East Midlands, where he managed just 13 starts in 18 months, plus a further 28 appearances off the bench.

He'd arrived as a big prospect in a £400,000 move – outbidding Jackett's Millwall at the time - from Northampton where he'd starred in a famous Cobblers win at Anfield in the League Cup.

But he found himself too often on the outside looking in as a Derby midfield was packed full of similarly talented young players including Will Hughes, Paul Coutts, Jeff Hendrick and Jamie Ward.

Jackett believes Derby's loss could well be Wolves' gain as they return to the same level as the Rams.

"I thought the Derby midfield was very good but they have a lot of his type of players there," said the boss.

"You could see in the play-off final; they were the better side, they had control, but perhaps in the final third they couldn't find the chance, they couldn't beat a player, or maybe QPR were just that strong defensively and were very good.

"So similar players probably stopped him from getting as many opportunities as he'd have liked, and when that happens, invariably one player will move on.

"The big thing about scouting is you have to see that situation as probably not a weakness.

"We had it here perhaps with Carl Ikeme and Wayne Hennessey.

"The club would like to keep them but it doesn't work that way - one has to go to give the other a chance to flourish.

"We hope we benefit from that. It's about 'right place, right time' as much as ability sometimes in terms of the progression of a footballer.

"But he's worked hard as well - he hasn't just looked just a luxury player that you carry off the ball.

"He'll work hard and close down and he's tracked back and contributed to a very good defensive record, so he's never let us down on that side."

Like several of his team-mates, Jackett believes this is Jacobs's time.

"This season is a very big year for Mike, as it is for quite a number of people at the club where they all want to prove themselves," said the boss.

"Can he go higher? He has to prove himself at this level first.

"You have to go with what's in front of you.

"It's an exciting time, and it certainly is for us because there are a number of people who have to prove themselves. Michael is one of them.

"I'm sure, having spent the majority of his time and his games in League One and League Two - like a lot of people at Wolves – he'll be looking forward to going into the Championship with the opportunity to prove himself."

Jacobs is at his best linking the play as a 'number 10' or cutting in from the wing and setting others up.

Jackett believes if Wolves can play to Jacobs's strengths, they could have a major player on their hands.

"Michael had a very big effect when he came into the club, and whether he plays wide or behind the striker, moving him off the line is key," said the boss.

"He did very well, right from the start when he came in.

"He didn't take any time to settle and hit the ground running.

"He's been able to play on either flank or behind the strikers, he's been an asset for us, definitely."

Jacobs has so far failed to find the net in five pre-season friendlies, although he has won both penalties scored by Bakary Sako.

But like fellow attackers Sako, James Henry, Rajiv Van La Parra, Dave Edwards, Leon Clarke and Nouha Dicko, he has been warned he must get on the scoresheet to stay in the team.

"He's a very good footballer, and, like all of the players in the forward positions, there's pressure on them to score," said Jackett.

"We can't play the system we play and just rely on one person, so the guys playing wide and those behind the striker have to be capable of scoring and Mike does that.

"He scored with two very good headers last season and if you play two up front and get crosses in, you're looking for that type of header.

"We feel he can score - his shooting ability is there, and if you get crosses in, he can arrive late and get goals that way - along with Henry, Edwards, Sako and Van La Parra.

"There are probably five players there for three positions with some flexibility that perhaps they can all interchange.

"It's quite an exciting area for us where whoever starts or is coming off the bench can make an impact."

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