Benik Afobe is the new number 10
Wolves' very own 'Ben 10' is hoping his new shirt number will bring him superhero powers next season.
Benik Afobe has been handed the number 10 shirt for 2015/16 after it was made vacant by free agent Bakary Sako.
In a move that will please football traditionalists, Wolves' fearsome front pairing of Afobe and Nouha Dicko will wear the 10 and nine shirts next season – as opposed to 12 and 40 last year.
Both strikers asked head coach Kenny Jackett if they could have the prized squad numbers.
And Afobe said he had always wanted to wear the number 10.
"With Bakary moving on I am taking over the number 10 shirt and it is nice to follow in the footsteps of a quality player like him," Afobe said.
"I've always wanted to wear the number 10 shirt – from the time I was a little kid and my nickname back home has been 'Ben 10'.
"It's just all those players at the very top who have worn it that I learned about or grew up watching.
"Pele, Maradona, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Messi – all those players that I look up to massively have worn the number 10 shirt.
"So it's a big honour for me to get the Wolves number 10 shirt although that won't mean anything if I'm not performing.
"Hopefully my performances won't change from last season and I can do well and keep impressing the gaffer, my team-mates and the Wolves fans.."
Afobe scored in Wolves' opening game of pre-season on Wednesday, a 3-2 win over FC Chambly.
And Jackett took the opportunity to praise his star strikers.
"At the end of last season, both Nouha and Benik came to see me, they wanted the number nine and the number 10 shirts," Jackett said.
"That shows good commitment and focus on the coming season.
"I'm very pleased that they've got those shirts and also encouraged by the start they've had."
