Saturday 12 December 2015 09:46, UK
Adam Le Fondre discusses the 'stain' on his career, his thoughts on fellow forward Benik Afobe and the experience of finding himself a senior figure on loan at Wolves...
"Fans love goalscorers and that's what I've been," Adam Le Fondre tells Sky Sports. It's hard to disagree. The 29-year-old striker has scored more than 160 league goals for seven different clubs and supporters are quick to remind him of those achievements.
Only last week, Le Fondre was treated to warm applause when he returned to Rotherham with Wolves. It's a reception he calls "tremendous" and "heart-warming" but it was no one-off. In the summer and with the financial problems engulfing the club, Bolton fans attempted to crowdfund his transfer to keep him at the Macron Stadium.
Le Fondre has stayed in touch with Bolton team-mates Zach Clough and Mark Davies and wishes them well. "It's disheartening," he says. "When I went there the fans took to me. I feel for them and the situation they're in. It's a real shame. Hopefully, they get through this period."
Of course, he remains a popular figure at Reading too, where his Premier League goals lit up their campaign and earned him a player of the month award. So it's all the more galling that the one club that hasn't seen the best of him is the one that holds his registration. Le Fondre's time at parent-club Cardiff was tough.
"I think the only place I've not really done it is Cardiff," he says. "That's probably been the major stain on my career. I've not done well enough there. I've not scored enough goals there."
A desire to move closer to his home in the north of England sparked a summer switch and he's now playing his football on loan at Wolves. He's recently ousted last season's top scorer Benik Afobe and is enjoying himself despite mixed results that leave the club in mid-table.
"It's been really good," says Le Fondre. "It's a massive club with lofty ambitions. Obviously, we've probably not got the points on the board that we deserve to have but if you keep working hard then your luck changes. Hopefully that will happen."
Le Fondre's first goal for Wolves was a late winner against Charlton after coming off the bench. That's been something of a trademark for a player who scored a record eight Premier League goals as a substitute in the 2012/13 season. Not that he appreciates the tag. He wants to play.
"It's probably a bit easier if you come into a game and you're losing because it's a no-lose situation for you," he admits. "But you just come on and give it your all and hope something falls for you. It doesn't matter for me whether I'm sub or I start, I know I'll score goals. It's as simple as that really.
"I've been disappointed that I haven't played more. I've been disappointed not to start more games. But with the gaffer setting up with one up front and Benik playing it was down to me to dislodge him. I've done that and hopefully that can keep going if I start scoring goals and winning games.
"If you're playing one up front and you've got a striker who scored over 30 goals last season, the gaffer is going to give him the benefit of the doubt and play him. Benik's had that. But I've worked hard and got into the team."
Could they form a partnership? "When we've played together it's gone well and we've got a good understanding. I wouldn't say he's a No 9 or a No 10. He's more of an all-round frontman. You can't label him. He's better than just being a No 9. He can drop off and link the play and has great ability."
Afobe is just one of a number of young players impressing at Wolves. Bakary Sako left in the summer, player of the year Richard Stearman was sold and Nouha Dicko is out with a long-term injury, but this has provided opportunities for a host of youngsters.
England Under-21 internationals Kortney Hause and Dominic Iorfa have featured regularly, while Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo, young defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell and, more recently, winger Jordan Graham have all been involved. So does Le Fondre feel like an old man amongst+ this company?
"A little bit," he says. "When you walk in and most of the squad are 21 or 22 years old, there are only about three or four of us who are 26 or 27 plus. But I've got more experience and hopefully I'm helping the lads to improve. That's what it's all about. I'm improving with the young lads."
Graham provided two assists in the win over Rotherham, leading Le Fondre to jokingly compare him to Neymar on Twitter. "He's got a great future" he adds. "He's a tricky winger who goes either way. He's got the technique, we've just got to keep his feet on the ground. I'm sure he'll do that himself."
Hard work for Graham and Wolves is the only forward way now after what's been a meandering start to the season - their only back-to-back Championship wins were followed by three consecutive defeats. But victory against Forest will put them just two points off the play-offs.
"We've just got to keep going and build momentum over the Christmas period," says Le Fondre. "We've got to get as close to the play-offs as we can then see what happens in January. This league is all about consistency so as soon as we find that in our results, I'm sure we'll shoot up the table."
