Suprise! Keshi backs Ideye

Brown Ideye hardly scores. He also hardly lays assists. And yet, his
coach Stephen Keshi has backed the under-fire forward to come good
once he sheds his anxiety.
The forward scored once at the African Nations Cup and only once more
since then; a penalty conversion against Mexico in a 2-2 friendly
draw.
And at the Confederations Cup he was guilty of squandering a host of
gilt-edged chances as he failed to find the back of the net.
But his endeavour, hard work, link-
up play have found favour with his coach.
HOUSTON – MAY 31: Aide Brown Ideye #8 of Nigeria fends off Javier
Hernandez #14 and Francisco Rodiriguez #2 of Mexico as he attmpts to
gain control of the ball at Reliant Stadium on May31, 2013 in Houston,
Texas. /AFP
"Yeah, it's true that Brown hasn't scored goals, but that does not
make him a bad player," Keshi tellsKick OffNigeria.com."Sometimes when
the ambition [to score] turns into anxiety, it becomes difficult for a
striker to score goals.
"So all he needs to do is relax. We have been working on his
innerrelaxation and inner calm so that when he is in front of goal it
will be much easier for him."
Keshi praised Ideye's other qualities, especially his unselfish graft
for the team. Against Spain he dropped deep to rescue the two
fullbacks from sticky situations, and Keshi says that fits into
hisphilosophy of team ahead of individual.
"He is a good kid; he has been working his tail off everywhere onthe
pitch. And that's what we want from somebody who plays for the team."
At club level Ideye averages more than a goal every other game, and
Keshi predicts that once the forward starts scoring for the Eagles, it
will be hard to stop him.
"It's just the finishing that's lacking because that is his number one
job, and that is why people are a little bit angry, but I'm very sure
it's going to come – and when it comes, it won't stop.
"We just need to support him, keep believing in him and give him the
confidence to continue to express himself without pressure."