Victor: JFH is obviously someone I can learn from with Burton
EIGHTEEN League starts in five years is a statistic which perhaps explains why Victor Adeboyejo turned down Barnsley’s contract offer in the summer and looked for pastures new with the hope of boosting his career.
The Tykes, relegated from the Championship only a year after reaching the play-offs, wanted to keep him on board but Adeboyejo is now a Burton Albion player and, like so many players who have signed for Burton, cites learning from manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as a reason for choosing the Brewers.
That particularly goes for the strikers and, clearly, Hasselbaink sees someone he will hope to improve in the 24-year-old, who was born in Nigeria but seems as much a Londoner as Bermondsey-born Deji Oshilaja.
He already knows Oshilaja and his brother and the popular defender’s presence at Burton was another reason for coming on board here.
“I’m very happy to get this over the line, it’s been in the works for a while,” said Adeboyejo.
“I’d been speaking to the manager throughout the off season.
“He’s broken down my game and told me a bit about myself.
“He told me the things I have to work on and the things he thinks I’m good at and it was very flattering to have someone of his calibre watching my game.
“Hearing that from someone like Jimmy is really nice and he says he likes watching me.
“His reputation is what it is. He scored a lot of goals at the highest level and he’s obviously someone I can learn from. I can see how much I can gain from that.
“He’s a big, strong powerful character and that’s something I want to bring to my game as well.”
He speaks no ill of Barnsley, who gave him a platform in 2017 after he was sent on six different non-League loans while with Leyton Orient.
Of 97 appearances for Barnsley, though, 69 were from the bench and he scored nine goals for them.
“Barnsley was a very good club for me in terms of the opportunities they gave me,” he said.
“I met a lot of good people and created some amazing memories.
“I can only thank all the fans, the staff and players for my time at Oakwell and wish everyone the best in the future.
“But now it’s about trying to kick on, get more games and establish myself a bit more in a first-team environment,” said Adeboyejo.
“That’s what my career in general has been lacking, that consistent run of games – with that comes the confidence and then the goals.”
Like most who come to the Pirelli Stadium, he has found a friendly and welcoming environment – and the familiar figure of Oshilaja.
“Deji is a very calming presence,” he said.
“He is from the same part of London as me and I know his brother as well.
“He’s a very cool-headed guy.”
The training regime has been an eye-opener since his arrival but he recognises what is needed.
“It’s been more than a sample of training so far,” he laughed.
“There’s been a lot of running and it’s an environment where people are working hard and that’s what you want, it will pay off in the season.”
Adeboyejo arrives with a reputation for being a handful for defenders, hard-running and hardworking.
That he acknowledges but he wants to broaden his gam now.
“I am trying to be a bit more technical and be smarter in my head in terms of where I position myself and my movement,” he said, before adding with a broad smile: “But I’m quick, strong and ready to run through people!”
It was very flattering to have someone of his calibre watching my game. Victor Adeboyejo