PATIENCE is a virtue. Just ask former Colchester United defender George Elokobi, the new kid on the block at Wolves.Cameroon-born Elokobi is no stranger to biding his time, waiting patiently in the wings to make his debut.

Carl Marston

PATIENCE is a virtue. Just ask former Colchester United defender George Elokobi, the new kid on the block at Wolves.

Cameroon-born Elokobi is no stranger to biding his time, waiting patiently in the wings to make his debut.

The no-nonsense left-back was recruited by the U's during the summer of 2004, more as a player-for-the-future than an instant first-team regular.

It took him more than a year to force his way into the senior squad. Signed from non-league Dulwich Hamlet in July, 2004, he finally made his U's debut as a late substitute in a Carling Cup game against Cardiff on August 24, 2005.

Now history is set to repeat itself as Elokobi faces a battle to force his way into the first-team squad at his new club Wolves.

On the day that he celebrated his 22nd birthday, Elokobi completed a glamorous move to Molineux on a two-and-a-half-year contract just before the transfer window closed at midnight on Thursday. The deal was rubber-stamped during the early hours of yesterday morning.

Unhappy and unsettled at Layer Road, where he failed to hold down a regular place in the U's defence, Elokobi is relishing a new challenge at promotion-chasing Wanderers after his move, which is believed to be worth around £500,000 including add-on clauses to Colchester.

But Wolves manager Mick McCarthy issued this warning: “George (Elokobi) is very talented, but he's not the finished article.

“However, he is one for the future and he certainly gives us an option at left-back. But as he accepted last night (Thursday), we've got the best defensive record in the division and Michael Gray has been different class this season, so he may have to wait for his chance.

“George has got in him to improve enormously and being here will help that. He's still learning the game, but the raw material is there.”

Elokobi will not feature in Wolves' Championship clash at Watford this afternoon. Instead, he will be watching from the stands.

In all, he made 45 senior appearances for Colchester, spanning three-and-a-half-years. He actually made his Football League debut during a month's loan spell at Chester City at the start of 2005.

Last season, he found it impossible to dislodge loanee left-back Chris Barker. After just eight starts last term, he had more opportunities in the Championship this season, making 19 appearances and also scoring in the 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday.

However, he was unhappy at losing his place at the beginning of November, and after slapping in a transfer request, he was even booed by a few U's supporters as he warmed-up on the touch-line (as an unused substitute) during the 2-2 draw at Watford.

His last appearance for the U's was the depressing 3-1 home defeat at the hands of League Two visitors Peterborough United, in the third round of the FA Cup on January 5.