Adebayo determined to show he is not a 'one dimensional' striker

Town attacker wants to prove he can score all types of goals for the Hatters
Elijah Adebayo sidefoots home Town's equaliser against Bristol City on Sunday - pic: Gareth OwenElijah Adebayo sidefoots home Town's equaliser against Bristol City on Sunday - pic: Gareth Owen
Elijah Adebayo sidefoots home Town's equaliser against Bristol City on Sunday - pic: Gareth Owen

Luton forward Elijah Adebayo is determined to show he can score all sorts of goals for the Hatters after chalking up a fifth in 15 appearances at Bristol City on Saturday.

With 68 minutes gone at Ashton Gate and the Hatters trailing 2-1, Adebayo was picked out by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s cross, opening up his body to connect with a clever side-footed volley that hit the base of the post and beat Robins keeper Dan Bentley.

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Harry Cornick went on to grab the winner, but Adebayo has now shown he can be a huge threat both aerially and on the floor, netting two thumping headers, one penalty, and another with his feet against Millwall to open his account back in February.

The 23-year-old who only joined from Walsall on deadline day a few months ago, said: “I don’t want to be a one dimensional striker and Chris (Cohen, first team coach) has been fantastic with us in terms of finishing in and around the box, everywhere.

“Sometimes guiding it, sometimes put some pace on it, so all those little elements that Chris is doing after training, those types of finishes, you can see it’s helping.

“I’m used to being on the back stick, but I thought I’d hold my position and guide it, get it on target and I’m just happy to see it go in.

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“We’re level and going for the winner which was good, so I’m always happy to contribute to the team, three points is the main thing, so I’m happy with that.”

Adebayo has settled even better than expected into not just life at Kenilworth Road, but the step-up to Championship level.

Having only previously played in League Two, the ex-Fulham youngster is quickly adapting to the robust nature of the second tier, and is more than a match for the far more experienced centre halves he is coming up against.

Adebayo was quick to praise assistant boss Mick Harford for helping him make such an impressive start, saying: “I’m delighted, I know there’s still more to come from me.

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“I’m just finding my feet and the boys have been fantastic, working me in and guiding me through each game.

“Big Mick has been guiding me through each game too, it’s just about me getting to the level and then hoping to kick on, grab as many goals as possible and goal involvements, which is good.

“He’s (Harford) always in my ear, giving me little bits of advice that some people might not see, but we have a conversation every single day and he just tells me little different things that can improve my game.

“We’ll go and analyse the game and then he’ll come to me and tell me, ‘listen, you should do this, do that’, but it’s always good.

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"I’m hear to listen and learn, so moving forward it’s going to be good.”

When asked if Harford, a much feared centre forward in his own right during a fine playing career, had instructed Adebayo to leave anything on the defenders he was facing, the striker added: "No, that comes from Harty (Paul Hart) to be fair!”