Blazing Saddler is hungry for success

SUCCESS on a plate for Emmanuel Adegboyega was once presenting the main course with artistic merit in the restaurant where he was chef’s assistant.

Now he’s dish of the day at Walsall, where the 6ft-3in onloan defender’s form has helped to catapult the Saddlers into the League Two promotion race.

Adegboyega, 20, is the EFL Young Player of the Month for February after scoring three goals in a five-match winning streak for Mat Sadler’s resurgent side.

The Bescot Stadium, so close to the M6 carriageway it’s almost on the hard shoulder, would be easy to miss at 70mph – except traffic rarely accelerates beyond a crawl on one of Britain’s busiest traffic arteries.

But Adegboyega, raised in Ireland but purring in the Saddlers’ central-defence on loan from Norwich, is yet more proof that English football’s strength is its professional bedrock.

While Premier League clubs haggle over a fair solidarity payment to the EFL – a disgraceful showcase for blinkered avarice – a salient truth remains.

EFL clubs are still indispensable sources of talent for the gluttons, and their Youth Development Week during the international break is a timely reminder that they do the heavy lifting to unearth young prospects like Adegboyega. Norwich, whose recent successes on the scouting beat include exciting forward Jonny Rowe, found him in Ireland.

“When I was starting out with Drogheda, I was also attending Dublin City University studying sports science and I had a day job to make ends meet,” said Adegboyega.

“I worked out the back in a restaurant as chef ’s assistant – it was a bit more than chopping onions, but it was good experience for when I moved over here to play football full-time, knowing how to cook and learning a few life skills.

“It was good to hear about the EFL award – it means I am making the right steps at Walsall. The goal is to push as high as we can.

“Last month we started hitting our stride and, going into the business end of the season, it would be good to be involved in the play-offs, or even promotion.”

Adegboyega models his game on Real Madrid’s former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, saying: “I like to think I offer more than pace and strength. I try to be composed and technical on the ball more than aggressive.

“I’ve seen the pathway of going out on loan from Norwich work for some players, and I felt the time was right for me to gain regular first-team experience. At

TODAY’S SPECIAL.. Adegboyega with his award after starring for Walsall (left)