Super Eagles: Genk get Durosinmi warning after striker scores in Westerlo comeback

Super Eagles striker Rafiu Durosinmi continued his impressive start to life at Racing Genk by scoring in his second consecutive league game as his new club came from two goals down to beat Westerlo 3-2 yesterday, Soccernet.ng reports.

Durosinmi converted a 41st-minute penalty to pull Genk back into the contest after Westerlo had raced into a 2-0 lead. The goal means the Nigerian has now found the net in each of Genk's opening two league matches, an encouraging start following his club-record €10.5 million move from Italian side Pisa this summer.

It is the kind of beginning Genk would have wanted from the 23-year-old after making him the most expensive signing in the club's history, but there is already a warning about the expectations being placed on the Nigerian international.

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Boskamp warns Genk over Durosinmi

Retired Netherlands international Johan Boskamp believes Genk cannot afford to put the responsibility for their success entirely on Durosinmi, insisting the striker needs the right support around him to make the most of his qualities.

“They did bring in that expensive striker, of course. But if you don't surround the boy well, you can't expect him to tear everything apart,” Boskamp told Het Belang van Limburg, in quotes revealed by VoetbalPrimeur.

The former Genk's coach comments came after Durosinmi scored on his Genk debut against Zulte Waregem, only for the goal to count for little as Genk suffered a 2-1 defeat.

Saturday's meeting with Westerlo provided a positive outcome, but the manner of the victory also illustrated Boskamp's point.

Genk found themselves two goals behind before Durosinmi's penalty sparked the comeback. Bryan Heynen then levelled the contest before the visitors completed the turnaround through Aaron Bibout to secure their first league victory of the season.

Durosinmi's contribution was important, but it was ultimately the collective response that won Genk the game.

Genk's record signing already delivering

There is little doubt that Durosinmi has what it takes to justify the faith Genk have shown in him. Before moving to Pisa, the striker established himself as a prolific forward in the Czech Republic, registering 45 goals and 16 assists in 125 appearances for Karviná and Viktoria Plzeň.

His spell in Italy didn't do much to enhance his reputation, but Genk still broke the bank to bring the Super Eagles striker to Belgium and the early signs suggest the Nigerian is adapting quickly.

Two goals in his first two league appearances is precisely the kind of return that will excite Genk supporters, but those goals have also highlighted the danger of expecting Durosinmi to become the solution to every problem.

A striker can finish chances, occupy defenders and create opportunities for teammates, but he cannot control every phase of a team's performance.

Genk's opening two matches have demonstrated that clearly. They lost despite Durosinmi scoring against Zulte Waregem before needing a second-half recovery to overcome Westerlo.

Durosinmi needs Genk to grow around him

The lanky striker has shown he knows how to find the back of the net. The way forward now is for his teammates to create the conditions that allow him to produce consistently.

That means supplying him with quality chances, improving the service into the penalty area and ensuring that the team remains competitive enough for his goals to have a greater impact on results.

For Durosinmi, the pressure will naturally increase with every goal, as it did with Tolu Arokodare and Paul Onuachu before him, but so far, the Nigerian striker has given the club plenty of reasons for optimism.