Genk captain Bryan Heynen has cautioned against drawing direct comparisons between Tolu Arokodare and former Genk striker Paul Onuachu, insisting the two forwards arrived at different stages of their careers and development.
Onuachu scored 79 goals in 114 league appearances during his four-year spell at the club, setting a standard that’s followed Arokodare since his arrival.
Softfootball understands that the 24-year-old has been in excellent form this season, netting nine times in 15 league outings.
Speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws, Heynen explained the context behind the criticism Arokodare initially faced:
The criticism Tolu received in the beginning had to do with the big shoes he had to fill. You have to remember that Paul was also 28 when he left. Tolu was 22 when he arrived and has just turned 24. That is a big difference. He still has time to grow to that level.
Heynen also pointed to a shift in Arokodare’s approach behind the scenes as a key factor in his rise:
I think he realises that it doesn’t just have to happen on the weekend, but also during the week. Both in training and in the gym,
he said, crediting the new coaching staff for helping drive that change in mentality.
