Posted by By BEN MEMULETIWON on
Middlesbrough's new Nigerian signing Yakubu Ayegbeni believes he can become the best striker in the world.
Middlesbrough's new Nigerian signing Yakubu Ayegbeni believes he can become the best striker in the world.
The 22-year-old was unveiled on Teesside, Wednesday, after completing his £7.5million (US$13.2million) move from Portsmouth and has impressed manager Steve McClaren with his ambition.
"I think there is more to come," said McClaren.
"He is 22 and look at the size of him - he can grow a little bit more as well.
"He has come here to improve and to get better and hopefully we can give him a platform to do just that.
"Talking to Yak before, he wants to be the best striker in the world. That is a great ambition to have, but I believe one that he can fulfil.
"The amount of goals that he has scored over the last few years - one in two at the level he has played and he is only 22 - it is up to Yak.
"He has to work very, very hard to improve on his game and become that. There is still a long way to go."
Yakubu himself makes no bones about his target and sees no reason why he cannot achieve it.
"Yes, of course, I want to be the best striker in the world," he said.
"I have played before in Israel for three and a half years and was scoring goals and I came to Portsmouth too and did the same.
"Now it is a big step for me to do the same, to do more."
Only Arsenal's Thierry Henry has scored more Premiership goals than Yakubu in the last two years and he is confident he can close the gap on the brilliant Frenchman with the help of his new team-mates.
"With these players, I think I can do that," he said. "The most important thing is for me to work hard.
"I want to score more than 20. That would be nice."
Yakubu will join the rest of the Boro squad when they fly out for a week's pre-season training on the Algarve.