Roy Hodgson is confident new loan signing Stefano Okaka will prove to be a valuable asset for Fulham.
Fulham boss backs Italian striker to come good after debut miss
Manager Roy Hodgson is confident that new loan signing Stefano Okaka will prove to be a valuable asset for Fulham.
The 20-year-old striker has arrived from Roma until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent transfer.
The Italy Under-21 international made his debut for the Cottagers in Wednesday's 1-0 league win over Portsmouth and missed a golden opportunity in the first half, heading wide from just three yards.
Okaka was thrust straight into the starting line-up with Andy Johnson, Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera out injured, while Erik Nevland was not fully fit, and Hodgson admits he will need time to adjust.
But the former Inter Milan boss has been impressed by Okaka's pace and power, and he feels those attributes will make him a worthwhile addition as Fulham aim to repeat last year's top-half finish and progress in the Europa League and FA Cup.
No saviour
"I'm sure he will get better and I'm sure he will turn out to be a useful signing for us," said Hodgson. "But he's not a saviour by any stretch of the imagination.
"He's a player we were able to get in on loan for this period of time and a player who has some interesting characteristics that we might be able to use, but he's not the man who will carry us.
"We're not saying don't worry if Andy Johnson's not around because we have Stefano Okaka - that would be placing far too much responsibility on his shoulders.
"He's a young raw player and had Erik Nevland not had that toe problem, he would not have started."
The Fulham fans gave Okaka a standing ovation when he was replaced by Nevland with 20 minutes left.
Devastated
The Italian scored a backheeled winner against Siena in his last match for Roma and Hodgson believes Okaka should look to that for encouragement as they prepare for Saturday's trip to Bolton after his shocking miss.
"I told him not to worry about it," he said.
"He's devastated by it because in Italy mistakes are magnified 100 times and I think it would take him years to live it down over there, but it will probably only take a few weeks here.
"If I was him I would put it into perspective by looking at the wonderful backheeled goal for Roma the other day."
