Focused Freddie

Photo: Alan Howarth

MAKING HIS MARK . . . loan signing Freddie Ladapo.

FREDDIE Ladapo has a point to prove as he strives to continue a meteoric rise that has taken him from 500 crowds at Margate FC to the glitz and glamour of the Premier League.

Released by struggling Colchester, the Romford-born striker toiled away in non-league circles before getting his ticket to the big time.

A spell at Kidderminster brought with it only four outings, with no goals, and it was only after prolific spells at Grays and then Margate that he sprung to the attention of professional outfits.

A trial at Crystal Palace saw him net a hat-trick and earn a two-and-a-half year contract at Selhurst Park five months ago.

Ladapo was close to making an Eagles debut this month, but Athletic manager Stephen Robinson was always confident he would land his man - a raw, physically strong and quick striker who had a major hand in two goals on an impressive debut against Carlisle in midweek and who looks set to start against Shrewsbury tomorrow.

'GRASP'

"I am just trying to grasp everything and get used to it. My main focus is just to keep powering on with each game and just keep showing what I can do," said Ladapo, following the 5-4 loss on Tuesday night in which he turned out for the full 90 minutes.

"I am enjoying it. I was hoping I would get a game (at Crystal Palace), but it is a huge step and maybe the manager felt that I wasn't ready yet.

"I am here to prove a point and to show how good I am."

Having been handed a second chance in the professional game, Ladapo appears determined to make it count and his enthusiasm for the task ahead is matched by his current manager Robinson's faith in his ability above other, more readily accessible targets.

"He has been chasing me for a while and he has kept in touch as well, so I felt good to be able to finally come in and sign the papers," said Ladapo, who will be with Athletic until January with a view to extending the arrangement to cover the full season.

"I can't wait. I didn't think I was going to play as long as I did against Carlisle, but with 90 minutes in my first game I hope that next up I get a good run-out again.

"I was a bit unlucky having one offside and another when I was through one-on-one where the defender pushed me in the back.

"So I was hoping I would get one - but the target now is the next game.

"It will be a good game and I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully, I can do as I did against Carlisle."

Athletic represent Ladapo's 12th club in a nomadic career the highly rated player hopes will culminate in Prermier League action, two years after leaving Colchester where he made only six appearances as a substitute.

"I had to go and play the games I needed to in order to show people that I can actually play football," Ladapo said.

'POSITION'

"When I was at Colchester I was young and their position was, can we really trust him enough to help us?

"They were not in the best position at the time, fighting relegation.

"I went out and showed what I can do and now, I'm here."