Wolves' Leon Clarke told to make own luck
Wolves boss Kenny Jackett today urged Leon Clarke to "make his own luck" as the striker looks to end his goal drought.
The 29-year-old, a £750,000 summer signing from Coventry, is yet to get off the mark in the Championship this season.
With yesterday's loan signing of Yannick Sagbo, he now faces even greater competition for a starting place.
Clarke has started two of the last three games, including Sunday's 3-3 draw at Reading.
While the head coach was relatively satisfied with his display, Jackett does feel he could be doing more to break his duck.
He said: "He had one header at the far post that just went wide but he worked really hard, he was very committed and, just generally, I thought he was a handful for the two centre-backs.
"I think as a forward you have to create things for yourself. It's not a position where you can just rely on the service – the best forwards create things for themselves.
"It's very difficult without the service but there has to be a degree of making situations for yourself. He's in a situation where, like all forwards, a goal would help him and help his confidence.
"He's got to earn that, he's got to work hard enough to earn that. I'm sure a goal will help his confidence."
Clarke scored only one goal for Wolves after making the move from Coventry back in January.
Before then he had netted 18 times for the Sky Blues and a healthy return of six goals in pre-season has not been followed up with goals in the games that matter.
Jackett believes Clarke's most effective position might be as a second striker, playing in a slightly deeper role to Nouha Dicko or new man Sagbo.
The head coach said: "His natural role is a 'No.10' coming short, rather than be right up there. My preference is to play somebody with pace in that role.
"Although, if you look at what Reading do when they play Glenn Murray right up there, Simon Cox plays off him and nobody goes in behind. They're both good players and they've got four goals each.
"Good players work it out and make the right angle at the right time. Generally, I'd want somebody quick up there, but if I was giving him his natural role it would be one of maybe two or as a second, deeper striker."
