Former RC Strasbourg forward Simon Zenke has advised his compatriot, Hamzat Ojediran, to consider leaving RC Lens following his ongoing struggles for playing time this season, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Ojediran, who joined the French club on a four-year deal from Hungarian side Debrecen, has found opportunities hard to come by since his arrival.
The Nigerian forward had established himself as an influential player during his two-year stint in Hungary, but his move to Lens has not gone as planned. After failing to secure a place in the senior squad, Ojediran has been relegated to the club’s B team, prompting Zenke to encourage him to seek a new environment where he can revive his form and continue his development.
As quoted from Footy-Africa, Zenke allayed, “The boy is just 21, and at this stage, he should be playing first-team football in my opinion, and from the look of things, the coach has other ideas for now. I will say he should talk to the club amicably to see if he can get a loan transfer to another team in Ligue 1 or Ligue 2.
“If possible, he can even try the Belgian league so that he can be playing games. Personally, I understand his predicament because I have been there before myself, so I understand", the ex Dinamo Bucuresti striker explained further.
“He is a good player, and I believe he is good enough to play, but the coach has the final say. However, Ojediran needs to play and get minutes at his age. It will help him in the long term.
“When he first joined them, I saw the potential. He was a bit raw in a few places, but you could see the potential in him. If I had the chance to speak with him, as a Nigerian and someone who has played in France too, I would suggest he seeks a loan move."
With the January transfer window drawing closer, Ojediran could seal a loan move away from the title contenders in search of regular first-team action.
By Oluwadamilola OlaleyeÂ