Akinfenwa is a ‘different talent’, says Stevenage boss Sheringham

Adebayo Akinfenwa (Image: Archant)

Teddy Sheringham says Adebayo Akinfenwa ‘is a talent’ but believes his side must also keep their eyes peeled on the rest of the AFC Wimbledon striker’s team-mates when his Boro side travel to Kingsmeadow on Saturday.

Stevenage go into the game having been knocked out of the FA Cup at Yeovil last time out, a result that left Sheringham feeling down for ‘three or four days’ afterwards.

The Boro boss will now be looking for a fillip of three points this weekend, but knows a difficult task awaits his men.

“He’s one of 11 players that we’ve got to be aware of. He’s obviously a talent, a different talent,” Sheringham said.

“Straight away you look at someone on the pitch like that and wonder how because of the size of him, but he obviously does it very well.

“He uses his body and size very well. He’s a good centre forward for them. He holds the ball up when he gets it into his feet and his chest. He’s someone we have to be aware of.”

Boro beat AFC Wimbledon home and away last season, but Sheringham says those results hold no sway over their forthcoming match.

“We’re a different type of side but we’ll take that on board that we did that and Stevenage can beat them home and away. That’s a positive side to it,” Sheringham said.

“But there have been a lot of changes. Out staff has changed first and foremost. I don’t know what’s changed from their setup last season but they’ve got new players in there.

“It’s about us doing something this season and not worrying about what happened last season or what will happen next season.

“We’ve got a very big game on Saturday and we have to be at our best and we’ll try to do that.”

Stevenage are missing Fraser Franks this weekend. The defender is out for another three weeks after picking up a medial knee ligament injury on Saturday.

Jamille Matt could feature, after he missed the trip to Yeovil as he was cup tied.

He will be competing with Armand Gnanduillet for a starting place up front. Gnanduillet, who is on loan from Chesterfield, extended his deal at Boro this week by another month, and Sheringham says he is pleased the French striker has agreed to stay on.

“We couldn’t hold the ball up front and couldn’t keep the ball in opposition’s half in the first 10 games of the season so we brought him in. He gave us massive lift, no doubt about that,” Sheringham says.

“He’s had good games and some okay games. He’s a young man still trying to ply his trade and learning what his big frame and big body can and can’t do on a football pitch, and what he can and can’t do.

“You’re not going to get the consistency that you’d want from a senior player because he’s still a young lad. He hasn’t played an awful lot of games in the English league but I’m delighted that he’s signed for another month here. He’s a good lad around the place and always wants to learn and do extra.”