Ipswich Town signed 22-year-old striker Dominic Samuel on loan from Reading on transfer deadline day. STUART WATSON takes a look at his career thus far ahead of his potential debut at Aston Villa on Saturday.
TEENAGE BREAKTHROUGH
After a prolific season for Reading’s Under-18s, he makes his England Under-19 debut in October 2012. Two months later he makes his Royals senior debut, aged 18, when coming on as a 72nd minute substitute in a 3-0 Premier League defeat at Sunderland.
FALSE STARTS
Joins Colchester on loan in January 2013, but is quickly recalled after just two appearances in League One. Jabo Ibehre, Clinton Morrison and Freddie Sears were all ahead of him in the pecking order.
“Dominic is going to be a good player, and he has a good future, but I just needed a bit more experience in the team,” said manager Joe Dunne.
Joins Dagenham & Redbridge in January 2014, but is stretchered off with a knee injury sustained 40 minutes into his one and only appearance for the League Two club.
BOY TO MAN
Joins League One side Coventry City on loan in January 2015 and scores six goals in 13 appearances during a spell when Tony Mowbray replaced Steven Pressley in the hot-seat. A fractured ankle cuts short the temporary switch.
Mowbray said: “Dominic has been terrific. He’s scored goals, linked the play and worked extremely hard. He’s a decent character around the dressing room.”
GetReading journalist Charles Watts wrote: “Last season’s loan spell at Coventry seemed to be the making of Samuel. Before moving to the Ricoch he was thought of a talented young forward who maybe needed to knuckle down a bit of fulfil his potential. He’s turned from boy to man.”
NO LUCK
After impressing on a pre-season tour of Thailand, Samuel appears to be firmly in Steve Clarke’s first-team plans, but he twists his knee during the Capital One Cup first round success at Colchester. Has still done enough to sign a new three-year deal the following month.
LOAN LIFT-OFF
Joins League One side Gillingham after returning to fitness and scores seven goals in 25 appearances. Manager Justin Edinburgh said: “He is getting better with every game. We haven’t seen the best of him. He can improve – we know it and he knows it. He has given us that focal point up front that perhaps we didn’t have.”
ANOTHER SET-BACK
Once again impresses for Reading in pre-season, but again luck is not on his side as he suffers a knee injury playing in a friendly against Swindon on the eve of the new season. Sidelined for a month.
STAM RESISTS FANS’ PRESSURE
Starts and impresses in a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal in the EFL Cup. Almost a month later he makes his first Championship start, scores and claims the man-of-the-match award as Burton are beaten 3-0.
GetReading journalist Charles Watts writes: “The 22-year-old frontman is hugely popular with supporters and the calls for him to be involved with the first-team grow louder each week.”
Royals boss Jaap Stam says: “Dom is a talented player, he’s a young player who has had a lot of injuries in the past. I think you have to be careful in bringing those players into the first team. Eventually, if he keeps doing what he is now, he is going to get his chance.”
Samuel said: “I realise that a lot of people are talking about me. They include me in their messages on Twitter saying why isn’t Dom playing, things like that. Whatever happens I’ll always respect the gaffer’s decision. He says I have good ability, but sometimes in football you need to be patient.”
Samuel starts five more times before Christmas, scoring in a 3-2 win at Blackburn.
TOWN WIN THE RACE
Is pushed further down the pecking order after Reading sign Lewis Grabban on loan from Bournemouth. Six Championship clubs, including Brentford and Barnsley, reportedly chase his loan signature but Ipswich get the loan deal done on deadline day.
Blues boss Mick McCarthy said: “He has certainly got something. Watching him in training today I do think he’s got goals in him. He hits the target and looks bright.”
DEBUT ON SATURDAY?
Was ineligible to face parent club Reading last weekend. Tom Lawrence and David McGoldrick impressed as a front pairing in the 2-2 home draw. Samuel scored a hat-trick as Town’s Under-23s thrashed Watford 8-0 at Portman Road on Monday night. He comes into the reckoning for Saturday’s Championship game at Aston Villa.
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