Ipswich Town and Nigeria-eligible forward Chuba Akpom has urged the club's fans to rally round the players despite their poor start, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 29-year-old joined Kieran McKenna's side on a season-long loan from Ajax and has yet to start a game for them this term, playing just 35 minutes of football.
Ipswich Town are yet to win this season. In the EFL Championship, they've played out three draws and lost to Preston North End. They've also been knocked out of the EFL Cup by Bromley.
The Blues will take on Sheffield United at Portman Road tonight, and Akpom believes they have enough time to turn things around.
“It’s normal for people to start panicking, but it’s early days. There are lots of new players, not just from this season but from last season, and everyone just needs a bit of time to gel,” the former Middlesbrough man said in quotes revealed by TWTD UK.
“We can see in training during the international break, we’ve really hammered down on the patterns of play, how we want to defend and attack, and I feel like it’s definitely helped the team already. Bit by bit, slowly but surely, we’ll get there.
“We definitely needed that international break. The things we’ve learned that the gaffer has instilled into us, the way that he wants to play, the way that he wants to use all the new players. It’s time to kick on from now.”
Akpom lauds Ipswich Town team spirit
The Nigeria-eligible forward mentioned he's not the most vocal person, although he considers himself a leader. He praised some of his new teammates for holding things down in the dressing room.
“There are a few boys, the senior boys especially, who are seen as more of the leaders. They’re still keeping everything intact.
“Obviously, we’ve lost Chappers, who was a big part of the changing room, but you’ve got Wes [Burns], Clarkey [Harry Clarke], Greavesy [Jacob Greaves], and there are still some players that have been here for a while.
“It’s a new time, it’s a time for new players to step up like me, like Jens [Cajuste] and Azor [Matusiwa]. It’s time for us to step up and help the team gel as fast as possible because there’s no time to waste.
“There’s no time for it now. We just need to adapt as soon as possible because we’ve played a few games. From now on, there’s no excuse. We want to produce, we want to win games and show everyone what we can do.
“I’m one of those leaders who’s not a vocal person that’s going to be screaming and shouting, but when it’s needed for something to be said, I’ll speak.
“Most importantly, you want to lead on the pitch by pressing, winning headers, doing everything and taking responsibility on the pitch, that’s how you lead. I’m hoping to definitely do that,” the former Arsenal man concluded.
Having admitted he joined the Blues because they fit his style of play, Akpom will be hoping to get more minutes under his belt as the season progresses.
