WES GETS BACK ON GOAL TRAIL
GOOD things come to those who wait – and Grimsby striker Wes Thomas’ patience has paid dividends.
The 32-year-old’s move to Blundell Park made it a dozen EFL clubs for the former QPR youth product, but he had to bide his time before joining last summer after being released by Oxford.
The League Two season was already two games old when Thomas finally settled on a move to the Mariners to work under Michael Jolley.
“I left it quite late,” he explained. “I weighed up a few options that were available, but I wanted to come in and go straight into a team rather than wait around for a little bit. It was the conversation I had with the gaffer that convinced me. He wanted me to come in and play from the get-go.
Conversation
“With a few other managers I spoke to at the time, they had already done their work in pre-season and were saying I would have to wait around for two or three games before I got an opportunity.
“That didn’t really sound like something I wanted to do. I decided to go with this route and I’m pleased with my decision.”
While Thomas was sure he had found the right club in Grimsby, the early weeks of the campaign were tough going.
With one win from their first ten games, the Mariners were second bottom at the end of September and Thomas had managed more red cards – one, against Newport in late August – than goals for his new club.
The all-important first goal finally came at the start of October in a 2-0 win over Port Vale, and Thomas has since kicked on – reaching double figures in the league.
And despite the slow start, the hitman has been around the block enough times to stay confident that he would eventually rediscover his scoring touch.
“It’s something I was conscious of but it’s not something I put any unnecessary pressure on myself about,” he said.
Pressure
“If you do the right things in the game, those goals will come. You just have to keep making the runs.
“That is experience. I’ve been in the position where I’ve not scored in a few games and you just need to keep working hard in training and keep believing.
“We didn’t start off well at the beginning of the season. It was quite a tough start for us but we kept our heads down and continued to work hard.
“We’re starting to see the results on the pitch. It’s always been a team with good players and ability but we started this season with a lot of new players and that takes time to gel. Now you’re seeing a team that can succeed.
“The goals have started to come recently for me, and it’s had a big influence on a few of the results. I’m happy that I’m getting goals and the team’s winning.”