'A cut above' - Expert insight into Hakeeb Adelakun's last few months prior to Doncaster Rovers return

The winger has signed an 18-month contract with Grant McCann's side after his short stay at Cheltenham came to an end last weekend. Adelakun was a revelation in his first spell in DN4 but that ended on a sour note, with him missing the crucial spot-kick in the infamous League Two play-off semi-final penalty shoot-out defeat to Crewe. That was followed by him rejecting the offer of a permanent deal at Rovers. But that all appears to be water under the bridge now, with both Rovers and Adelakun looking for a profitable second half of the season.

We got the expert insight from Jon Palmer, from Gloucestershire Live, into how the last few months have gone for Adelakun at Cheltenham.

Q: First of all, how do you reflect on Hakeeb's time at Cheltenham?

JP: "Short, but sweet. His quality was obvious when he went on from the bench in the 57th minute for Salford City and scored twice against Cheltenham last season to seal a 2-1 comeback win for the Ammies. When he signed a short-term deal in early November, it was regarded as something of a coup, with much surprise that he hadn’t already found a club after leaving Salford in the summer.

"Steve Cotterill revealed Adelakun was the first player he contacted after being appointed Cheltenham boss at the end of September and in the end, he managed to secure a deal. It was always highly unlikely that he’d stay for longer, based on Cotterill’s comments throughout, which almost framed it as a two-month loan.

"Cotterill has managed his return to full match sharpness carefully and successfully and he has looked a cut above in several recent matches. He made four appearances from the bench before making his first start against Buxton in the 6-2 FA Cup second round win. He started the next six league games, scoring in the wins over Barrow and Shrewsbury Town either side of Christmas. He then went on as a substitute against Crawley Town on Sunday and scored the vital first goal to set up a 3-0 win – the perfect way to sign off. He sees things very few players in League Two see and it’s evident from his brief period at Cheltenham that he belongs at a higher level.

Q: What were his strengths and weaknesses?

JP: "Doncaster fans will know all about his finishing ability from his previous spell there. Adelakun plays with a swagger and almost makes it look effortless at times, with his touch and vision. He is not afraid to try the spectacular or the audacious. But the 29-year-old is far from a ‘luxury player’. He has been forced to run hard during his appearances for Cheltenham and he has passed the Cotterill workrate test, which some players do not manage.

"Adelakun looked a little leggy towards the end of the festive fixtures, with so much football in a short space of time, not long after starting his first game, so that was understandable. But he will return to Doncaster fit and sharp, fully ready to make an immediate impact."

Q: What was the fans' opinion of him and were they disappointed by the short, sharp nature of his stay there or was it partly expected?

JP: "He was an instant hit with Robins fans, who quickly introduced their own chant for him. The majority knew it was a case of enjoying it while it lasted and he’ll go with their best wishes, with no ill feeling.

"Everyone seems to have got what they wanted out of the two-month stay and he’s played a significant part in helping Cheltenham pull steadily away from the relegation zone as they move into the second half of the season, after such a poor start before Cotterill’s return."

Q: How do you think he'll cope stepping back up to League One after a couple of seasons at League Two level?

JP: "Based on what he produced against Cheltenham for Salford last season within minutes of joining the action and what he’s shown since regaining match sharpness this season, he’ll be able to handle the step up without any issues at all. An excellent addition."