Sochaux striker/ attacking midfielder Ideye Brown is to replace John Obi Mikel.
He gets his opportunity after Mikel’s ankle injury ruled him out of the World Cup. Brown might have not wished it but influential injuries have helped his career take an upward trajectory.
His choice is a bit puzzling when you think Lars Lagerback should have chosen someone comparable in holding capabilities to Mikel. Perhaps former Wolves midfielder Seyi Olofinjana could have been a more conventional option. That role now falls on Fulham’s Dickson Etuhu.
Lagerback seems to have gone in for more attacking strength with his choice of Brown. And he seems to be relying on the striker’s considerable talent that first attracted attention in the 2007 U20 World Cup in Canada where he contributed significantly to Nigeria’s progress to the quarterfinals.
Brown comes across as a player whose professional pace seems to be somewhat unhurried, preferring to develop his game through the Nigerian league before taking the European route at the ripe old age of 20 years. He was hired by Swiss club Neuchatel where he continued his impressive attacking exploits.
His big break came unexpectedly and perhaps faster than Brown would have preferred. Sochaux were left shorthanded when Charlie Davies’s season came to a sickening end with that horrific car injury.
The French Ligue 1 club were in the market for a replacement when Brown’s form attracted their attention. Les Lionceaux took their time but Brown eventually joined the club on a record transfer. In a bit of foretaste he has already scored four goals in nine matches but is expected to do much more.
Brown was delighted to make Lars Lagerback’s initial 30 man squad and his inclusion led to some wishful thinking.
“My dream would be to grab just a few minutes to show what I can do. But I’m not expecting anything – I’m still young, after all. Just making it into the 23-man squad would be an incredible opportunity at this stage in my career.”
We might see Brown coming off the bench, a combination of talent and opened doors.