NATURAL BORN THRILLER
Ogbene: I’m not a striker but love life in fast lane
Bromby played with Eustace
at Watford and has been closely following his start to fulltime management at Birmingham.
Eustace has picked up seven points from his last three games despite ongoing uncertainty around the club and his position amid a protracted takeover by Brum fan Paul Richardson and ex-Argentine striker Maxi Lopez, who have agreed a deal to buyout the club’s Far East owners. (above)
CHIEDOZIE OGBENE is loving life in the fast lane and has the drive to survive as an international after becoming a forward thinker for his club.
All summer there was speculation that Ireland’s new poster boy could be leaving Rotherham United despite promotion to the Championship from League One.
But the Corkman has remained loyal to the Millers for now, although he admits there is no progress on new contract talks which means he will always be a flight risk.
Stock
And particularly so as his stock continues to rise on the international stage after scoring three goals in 10 appearances since breaking through 15 months ago.
Rotherham used to deploy Ogbene as a wing-back, but the 25-year-old has flourished further up the pitch for Stephen Kenny in a wide, attacking role.
That purple patch wasn’t lost on Millers boss Paul Warne, who converted Ogbene into an emergency striker this season and has been rewarded with five goals in 11 games.
“I’m not a natural striker, I’ve played winger all my life and to leave players like Georgie Kelly and Tom Eaves out to play me up top shows his belief in me,” said
Ogbene.
“Since I’ve been here with Ireland, playing a more forward role has helped him to make his decision.
“I’m working on it and I’m learning to be more of a focal point for the team and be that outlet. I’m hoping I’ll continue to chip in with goals for the team.
“If I do, I’m sure it will help the manager make that decision (to remain a striker) as I really enjoy that position.
“I think my teammates like me up there, I can be that outlet for them if we are under pressure and I enjoy going in behind and running at defenders.”
Profile
The more headlines that Ogbene grabs for club and country, the bigger his profile becomes and the Ireland ace has made no secret of his career ambitions.
He wants to play in the Premier League and the fact that contract talks are on hold means his future beyond this season is unclear if he remains on an upward trajectory.
“There is no talk, the club hasn’t really come to me,” he said “I’ve said to them I want to push for the next step.
“We’ll see how it pans out but I think they are more than happy to see how the season goes and hopefully I can contribute.
“The club wanted to keep me. The manager sat me down and said ‘Chio, I want to keep you’ and I was happy where I was.
“I was getting the opportunity every week and that’s where I wanted to be, playing football. Before I had been at Brentford where I wasn’t playing. (above)
“I wanted to make sure that this decision was right for me and my family. I wasn’t really close (to leaving this summer), and I didn’t let it distract me.
“If it was something that came in and both I and my family, and the club, were happy, we would have to consider it but nothing came.”
Back in the Championship for a second time, Ogbene is pulling out the stops to make himself the best he can be in the higher league and with his new position.
And he feels his brief time with the Ireland team has already improved him as a player as he eyes Saturday’s clash against Scotland at Hampden Park.
“I’m improving and I’m doing