Blues midfielder starting to fulfill his potential, says boss

Dec 6 2012 By Matt Lewis

Joel Grant

GARETH Ainsworth believes Joel Grant is starting to fulfill his potential at Wycombe Wanderers after watching the midfielder netted a wonder strike in Saturday’s victory over Bristol Rovers.

Grant scored a wonder goal against Bristol Rovers before picking up a head injury that saw player-boss Ainsworth enter the fray at half-time and make sure of the points with a diving header.

Ainsworth has studied the 25-year-old’s progression at Adams Park since Grant signed for the Blues last summer and has been impressed as the former Crewe star has raced to the top of the club’s scoring and assists charts this term.

Saturday’s opener against the Pirates was Grant’s seventh goal in 23 appearances for Wanderers this term and Ainsworth believes there is much more to come from his prized asset.

“It was a great goal from Joel and he is a special player,” Ainsworth said after the 2-0 victory. “He has always been known as Joel Grant - the boy with so much potential - but I aim to be the person who gets his potential out of him and makes him the Joel Grant that nobody else could.

“I think I’m halfway there and he is doing fantastically well. I coach him positionally but when he’s going forward, what he does, you can’t coach that. He’s unplayable and Joel is a match winner on his own.”

Grant gave Wanderers an early lead with a brilliant solo goal that saw him collect the ball on the halfway line, ghost past two players and fire a low shot past Rovers keeper Sam Walker.

The next goal was always going to be crucial and despite the Pirates' early second-half threat, it went the way of the hosts as a Sam Wood cross was headed home by Ainsworth to secure the points.

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