Why Swindon Must Play to Adebayo's Strengths

Elijah Adebayo is an enigma; he can be highly effective one week and quiet the next.

To an extent, that is to be expected for any 20-year-old who has only started five games in the EFL.

Equally though, what defines his performance appears to be the type of service he receives and by extension, this could define Swindon Town's campaign; they've certainly not made a bad start, with two wins in their first three games making them 11/4 for promotion with Betway as of 21st August.

To start with, it's important to explore his time at Fulham, where he is very highly-rated.

The striker has been contracted to the West London club since joining the Under-9s and, after impressing in every age group as well as in non-league loan spells with Slough Town and Bognor Regis, he was then given a chance in the Development Squad.

In the first half of last season, Adebayo chalked up 11 goals and 7 assists by Christmas in PL2; but, notably, this was in a process-driven side that focused largely on nurturing individuals, therefore much of the football was played on the floor.

When he went to a slightly more agricultural Cheltenham side in January, he struggled for starts and perhaps didn't quite make the impression he might have hoped to on their fans and manager Gary Johnson, despite scoring a respectable two goals in 274 minutes of football.

Football on the deck appears to suit the youngster, who is deceptively tall at 6'4". He has an imposing frame relative to youth level and clearly that has helped him against others in his age group, but it would be misleading to dub him a target man.

Ask Adebayo to win high balls against powerful, seasoned professionals then, as we saw in his fruitless duel with Michael Bostwick at Lincoln in week two, he can struggle.

Interestingly, all three of the EFL goals he has scored have come when the ball has been played to his feet; that is how The Robins will get the best out of him.

Phil Brown spent a large chunk of his summer budget on midfielders; his former Southend colleague, Jermaine McGlashan, muscular deep-lying playmaker, Toumani Diagouraga and forward-thinker Michael Doughty all arrive with arguably League One pedigree.

Thus, having lost the energetic Paul Mullin and poacher Luke Norris, Brown has not been able to add a classic target man to win those aerial balls; Kaiyne Woolery and Scott Twine are more withdrawn forwards while Sol Pryce is yet to feature.

For that reason, the direct style of play Brown enforced in 2014-15, when his Southend side won promotion with battering ram Barry Corr up top, is a complete no-go.

Adebayo is not a target man; to have a chance of promotion this season, Swindon must play to his feet and to his strengths.