Benik Afobe is 'central' to Wolves' play
Wolves striker Benik Afobe has earned the right to have the team's playing style geared around him, boss Kenny Jackett says.
The £15m-rated former Arsenal man was surprisingly withdrawn at half time during Wolves' 1-0 defeat to Bristol City on Tuesday.
Afobe was replaced as Jackett changed formation, going for a 3-5-2 system with Adam Le Fondre and Grant Holt paired up front.
While Afobe has scored seven times in 17 matches this season, he hasn't looked himself of late.
And Jackett admitted that when the striker isn't firing, it takes a 'big part' away from Wolves' attacking ventures.
The Wolves boss said: "He's very much geared to be central to what we're doing, whether he plays as a lone striker or just behind a striker.
"In either role there's very little defensive responsibility, he has the freedom through the middle to come and get ball and control and turn and go at people, or to tun in behind defenders and into spaces for through balls.
"He's been successful in both.
"Yes he is a player that we look to, that our pattern and our style has been tailored around and quite rightly as well, he's earned that with how well he did last year.
"That's what he's wanted, he's wanted to be central to the pattern and strength of the team.
"If he's not firing, if we don't get the right service to him, or the combinations around him, it does take a big part of our strength away going forward."
Afobe is goalless in his last four and has never gone five consecutive appearances in gold and black without scoring.
Jackett hopes his undoubted ability shines through, starting against Burnley tomorrow.
"Many or most of our moves concern him," he added. "If other people get free it's generally because defences are very aware of him.
"When he does get on the ball he can really keep close control but move at a very good pace. I do think he occupies defenders and helps other players that way."
Of Afobe's reaction to be taken off at half time on Tuesday, Jackett added: "He's fine. He wants to be central to our play and hitting top form, as the team do, and need to on Saturday.
"As well (as taking Afobe off) I was hoping for quite a big reaction from Le Fondre and Holt as well as a partnership. When you see them in training there's potentially a good pairing there if you want to go to a two.
"As much as the second half was without Afobe, a lot of my focus was putting those two up there and seeing what they could do.
"It didn't quite happen, it's not always their fault, it didn't come off."
