Fashion Sakala stole the show against Motherwell and with his performance, he also went home with the match ball, a stunning hat-trick showing the Zambian internationals full repertoire of finishing ability.
We’ve been waiting for him to be given a chance and with Kemar Roofe and Alfredo Morelos not quit clicking one of them was eventually going to have to make way for the summer signing.
It wasn’t just the fans that were impressed with Steven Gerrard signing the 24-year old’s praises, claiming that his performance was on the cards, as reported by The Scotsman:
“Fashion has been waiting to do that, We’ve been waiting for him to settle and to get ready.
“He’s been away from his family for some time but we’ve seen the difference in him over the last week to 10 days where he’s looking extra sharp, extra hungry. He’s gone and delivered for his team today.
“It takes time. He’s got to get used to his team-mates, they’ve got to get used to him. He’s got to get used to the way we play the game, both sides. He’s got to earn that trust on the training pitch.
“But it just felt different in the last week to 10 days. He showed that in his cameo against Aberdeen in midweek where he came on and helped us get back in the game. Today at times he was unplayable.
“He’s got that unpredictability about him and that sheer burning pace. He’s going to cause teams and individuals a lot of problems.”
It’s his last sentence that resonates the loudest, pace and unpredictability. Two assets that can make him a nightmare to defend against socially when it is an accusation that has been thrown at our attack this season – too slow, too predictable.
That he scored one goal from the right, one from the left and one from the centre demonstrates he’s perfectly happy anywhere on the forward line, as does the fact he scored header, a volley and a shot from distance.
Morelos has been playing a lot deeper this season which creates space in behind, there were a few times against Motherwell where a ball over the top for Sakala was on but it wasn’t taken, as Gerrard said though, the players have to get used to and trust him but, if his display on Sunday is anything to go by, it’s not going to take long – if they don’t already.