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After becoming Huddersfield Town’s record signing on the 10th of January 2014, endless pressure has mounted on the shoulders of Nahki Wells. But is he the man to lead the club from the front?
Wells was a fan favourite at Bradford City where he was part of the side’s most successful years since their relegation from the Premier League. Along with strike partner James Hanson, Wells led the team to promotion from League 2 via the play-offs, as well as reaching the Capital One Cup final, seeing off the likes of Arsenal and Aston Villa before falling victim to a 5-0 drubbing against Swansea.
His form for City meant it was inevitable clubs would come calling and it was Huddersfield Town that won his signature in a deal worth £1.3million. Fans were ecstatic as it was the type of coup that the Yorkshire club had previously been famous for failing to bring in. It seemed a real statement of intent.
But how has Wells coped with the pressure of a hefty price-tag and all the expectations that come with it?
In his two years at the club so far he has scored 35 goals, ending the 2014/15 season as the clubs top goal-scorer with 14, a tally that he has already equaled this season with two months of the campaign still left to play. His ever improving displays have secured the hearts of many Huddersfield fans, yet there is still a feeling of discontent with others.
There is only one other senior striker currently at the club in the form of Ishmael Miller who most fans, if not all, have agreed to be simply not good enough at this level. Therefore, everyone looks to Wells, who has nobody there pushing him to take his place. Is complacency on Wells’ part something that worries fans?
There’s no denying his conversion rate has to improve when you consider the chances he gets in a game. In Huddersfield’s home fixture against Ipswich, Wells had seven shots on goal, the majority in the first half. Had he converted those opportunities, Huddersfield would have been out of sight at half-time, but instead they lost 1-0, and although fans could take heart from the performance, it was certainly three points dropped against one of the top teams in the division.
However, it’s easy to look straight to Wells when the ball hasn’t hit the back of the net, but who else is contributing? In the month of February, Huddersfield scored five goals in five games, in which Wells scored three. The other two goals, both away to Nottingham Forest came courtesy of an own goal and a wonder strike from young Phillip Billing. Where is everybody else? Manager David Wagner operates with at least three attack minded players behind Wells, to help support him and to make opportunities for themselves, but recently this is just not happening.
The lack of a second choice striker doesn’t help either. The club have failed to bring somebody in, whether that’s the previous manager’s fault or the board’s, no one is to know, but every Town fan will agree it’s something that has to be addressed. With someone else there to push Wells, he may thrive knowing he has strong competition in the squad, and it would also give the club that extra option to try and kill games off.
However, Wells should feel very proud of what he has so far achieved at Huddersfield. When at Bradford, he formed a dangerous partnership with fellow striker James Hanson, but has since had to adapt to the lone striker role. He hasn’t got a big man alongside him now, and has to do a lot more work by himself to get goals.
Fans may moan about the chances he misses, but just look at the number he puts away. Since the start of the 2012/13 season, Wells’ goal tally has meant that he stands as the sixth highest goal-scorer in the English leagues with 64 league goals. In front of him are the likes of former Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes and Manchester City star Sergio Aguero. Maybe everyone should cut him a little slack, no?
Wells has also expressed his desire to improve his all round play, and no one can deny he has done that. He doesn’t just finish moves, but starts them. He can come in deep to collect the ball and with his much improved fitness, he is capable of then getting himself back into the position where his team require him to be.
He is becoming an ‘all-round striker’ and at the age of 25, he still has time on his side. Huddersfield should not take him from granted. Under Wagner and the style of play he demands, Wells has managed to score 10 goals for the club in 21 games at the time of writing. Before that, he could only manage four goals under former first team boss Chris Powell. Happiness and confidence have been key. Fans need to stick with Wells, and the rest of the team need to step up in the final third. Do this, and the club could end the season on a massive high, and Wells may just break the 20 goal barrier for the season.
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