'He's often in the right place' - 1988 European Championship winner Kieft praises Ajax super-sub Akpom 

Wim Kieft, a member of the Netherlands squad that won the 1988 European Championship, has praised Chuba Akpom for his goal-poacher instincts but at the same time, the former Ajax Amsterdam and PSV Eindhoven star reckons that the Nigerian striker is not on the same level as Brian Brobbey.

After struggling in his first two months as an Ajax Amsterdam player following his move from Middlesbrough, Akpom has gotten his mojo back, coinciding with the appointment of John van 't Schip as coach. 

The Arsenal academy product has earned a reputation as a super-sub, with five goals in five appearances as a substitute under John van 't Schip.

Wim Kieft noted that Akpom has the ability to pop up at crucial moments to score important goals for Ajax Amsterdam due to his positioning. 

"He is often in the right place, as has become apparent in recent weeks. He hits the target well," he said in his column for De Telegraaf, via Ajax Fansite.

"Yet you won't easily see him playing together with Brobbey. He is much more complete as a striker, because Akpom's football is all rather mediocre.

"It is nice for Ajax and Van 't Schip to have a striker like Akpom at hand as a crowbar. For Brobbey, such a competitor is also not a bad thing to keep him awake." 

Akpom's performances at Ajax Amsterdam is being monitored by Nigeria boss Jose Peseiro ahead of his squad announcement for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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