News about the Wolverhampton Wanderers from BirminghamLive as we follow Dexter Lembikisa’s progress while on loan at Rotherham United
Right back for Wolves Dexter Lembikisa is off to a great start while playing on loan for Rotherham United in the Championship.
The 19-year-old has started four of his team’s five games while away from Molineux on his first loan, and he has also made one appearance off the bench. However, those statistics don’t reflect his efforts or his personal achievement at the weekend, when he scored his first professional goal with a beautiful volley to help his club defeat Rotherham United 2-1 at home.
The Rotherham Advertiser was blown away…and not only by the goal. “The high-velocity volley was fired so perfectly that goalkeeper Angus Gunn had no chance as it screamed into the net,” they write.
“It was a first goal in senior football for the loan teenager, who is quickly becoming a cult figure among Millers supporters, and he is unlikely to score another better one.”
A peek at the Rotherham fans forum, Millers Mad, reveals that the youngster is a fan favorite. “Please don’t want Dexter back at Christmas Wolves,” one person says. If he’s keeping Dex out, you must have one helluva guy at right back right now.”
“After the shaky first 20 minutes against Blackburn, the lad has been a revelation, what a performance and what a goal,” says another. He’ll be a top-tier player. Definitely MOM. “I’m hoping we can keep him for the entire season.”
The club’s official website revealed that Lembikisa was the man of the match versus Norwich, as voted upon by 62% of fans. “A rocket of a strike and an excellent performance to accompany it meant that on loan defender Dexter Lembikisa landed the Mattress Online Man of the Match award for Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship victory over Norwich City,” they said.
“The 19-year-old unleashed a ferocious strike that will almost certainly make the ‘Goal of the Season’ shortlist.” Lembikisia, who was on loan from Premier League team Wolverhampton Wanderers, showed maturity in both defense and offense that belied his young age.
“Not only was he able to contain the dangerous Dimitris Giannoulis, but he also found ways to hurt the Canaries down the flanks in attack and was the standout performer from a team display that made choosing four candidates extremely difficult.”
Next, we speak with Rotherham manager Matt Taylor, who says, “We like Dexter.” What he is, for a 19-year-old……his goal is a bonus on top of a superb defensive performance. He’ll only get better from here.”
Lembikisa made his senior debut for Wolves in November, coming in as a substitute in a Carabao Cup fixture at Leeds before making his Premier League debut the following week against Arsenal at Molineux.
These possibilities were provided by the interim management team of Steve Davis and James Collins, who had previously taught the defender in the academy. Julen Lopetegui, on the other hand, showed faith in the youngster when he gave him his first start in the FA Cup against Liverpool in January.
Lembikisa joined the Wolves academy when he was 13 years old, and his success since then has been rewarded with a three-and-a-half year deal, with Wolves holding an option to extend it for another year.
Davis, the defender’s former academy and first team manager, is currently the club’s pathways manager, in responsibility of assisting young players in making the transition from academy to first team football.
He was always optimistic that Lembikisa would perform admirably while on loan. “He’s more than capable of doing well in the Championship,” he remarked when the agreement with Rotherham was confirmed in July. It’s a nice place to be, a terrific club to visit, and a fantastic first loan for him. It’s a prize for his promotion to the first team, as well as his international call-up.
“The time with the first team has been extremely beneficial, and training with those players on a daily basis has pushed him to see what he can do more of.” When players train with the first team on a regular basis, we find that they have to raise their game and learn what the standard is.
“He’s always been a confident boy who believes he belongs in that company, which has helped him adjust quickly to first-team life.”
“When you have someone who is consistent every day and doesn’t look out of place in that environment with top-tier players, you have to have complete faith that when he does get an opportunity, he’ll be fine.”
“He’s going to have some tough games against some tough competition.” The wingers in that league will be good, and some of them will be elite Championship and Premier League wingers, so he’ll be tested.
“I’m curious to see how he handles it.” I’ll be watching the games and keeping a careful eye on his growth.”
