'He's an animal' - Coventry City boss on the player who can be anything he wants

Mark Robins believes Amadou Bakayoko can be a beast of striker for Coventry City.

The Sky Blues boss has been impressed with the big centre-forward in the last two games and says he’s set the benchmark for future displays for the team.

Bakayoko had a hand in last week’s goal by Jordy Hiwula to secure the three points at Rochdale and scored the opener with a fine near post header in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Midland rivals Walsall.

“He’s an animal,” said Robins, of the target man who took his tally to four goals when he scored against his former club the Saddlers at the weekend.

“He can do everything. It’s just a case of putting it all together and for him to understand it.”

Asked if he thinks Bakayoko was particularly fired up for the game because it was against his former club, the City manager said: “I think he has been like that in the last couple of games.

“Once he believes in himself and realises what he is then that’s what you’ll get and he will get better and better.

“I just think the goal gave him confidence when he shouldn’t have to wait to get that because he is not just defined by that.

“He is defined by his power and pace and his ability. And I thought he was outstanding after the initial 15 minutes, and once that confidence kicked in he can do anything he wants.

“It’s just little bits of his game that he needs to work on and he needs to do that.

“There were runs that he still could have made and those are the things that will make all the difference for him. But I was really pleased for him because it was a really good performance.

“He was winning things in the air, he was flicking on and his movement – he was really, really good and that’s good for him because he’s set his benchmark and he’s got to keep doing that.”

Bakayoko has been slow to establish himself at City following his £300,000 summer move from the Banks’s Stadium.

Although he started the season, he slipped down the pecking order as Robins sought to work on his game in training.

However, the 23-year-old has come back to the fore in recent weeks since the departure of fellow big man Jonson Clarke-Harris to Bristol Rovers in the January window, and is clearly relishing the opportunity to take his chance to impress and finally stamp his mark at the club.

   

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