SPOTLIGHT: Cauley Woodrow

[WhiteJC]

 
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Cauley Woodrow, the teenage striker Magath has entrusted to keep Fulham in the top flight

Sportsmail gives you the lowdown on the best talent at football clubs throughout Europe. Here, ADAM SHERGOLD gives you the lowdown on Cauley Woodrow, the teenager leading the line for Fulham as they bid to avoid relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

Name: Cauley Woodrow
Club: Fulham
Age: 19
Position: Striker


Favoured forward: 19-year-old Cauley Woodrow has started Fulham's last two matches - against Cardiff City and Newcastle United - as they try and preserve their Premier League status

I'm going to need more than that...
It was the shock selection of Fulham's season when Felix Magath decided Cauley Woodrow was to start up front for them in the relegation six-pointer at Cardiff City last weekend.

Although the German has been experimenting to try and find his most effective front pair, the selection of Woodrow was completely left-field.

But Magath was clearly impressed by what he saw in the Welsh capital because the 19-year-old was back in the starting line-up for Saturday's 1-0 home win over Newcastle, this time completing the whole 90 minutes.

Woodrow showed some nice touches and a bit of threat in the box and so should be in contention to start further games as Fulham bid to preserve their top-flight status.


Test of strength: Woodrow takes on Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini during Saturday's meeting at Craven Cottage, which Fulham won 1-0 to boost their chances of survival

If he can get off the mark and score a few goals into the bargain so Fulham can pull off the great escape, he'll be a hero at the Cottage.

Hailing from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, frontman Woodrow joined Luton Town as a 13-year-old in 2008 after being spotted by club scouts while playing for amateur side Buckhurst Hill.

By the start of the 2010-2011 season, he was in the first team squad at Kenilworth Road and made three first-team appearances from the bench in the FA Trophy that season.

His debut came 12 days before his 16th birthday as Luton won a first round replay at Welling United.

Although Woodrow only had a few minutes of senior experience under his belt, he was quickly attracting attention from a number of big clubs.


On debut: Woodrow playing on his senior Fulham debut at Cardiff City last weekend after his surprise recall from a loan spell at League Two Southend United

So why the fuss?
In March 2011, with Woodrow still at school, Fulham paid £440,000 to secure his signature, the fee possibly rising to seven figures depending on future progress. Woodrow was contracted until 2016.

This was a very large amount of money to pay for an untried teenager but it showed Fulham's faith in his potential. The Hatters were sure to include what their managing director described as 'a very healthy sell-on clause.'

The fee understandably generated a great deal of fuss, as did a call-up to the England Under-17 squad while still at Luton in 2011. It was the first time a non-league player had turned out for any England age group in 37 years.

Competing in the annual Algarve Tournament in Portugal, Woodrow scored on his debut during a 1-1 draw with Romania.


Vital: Woodrow has been thrown in by Fulham's new manager Felix Magath and has risen to the challenge

Woodrow was part of the Fulham Under-18 side that won the 2011-2012 Premier Academy League and he scored in the final as Blackburn were beaten 2-0 at Craven Cottage in front of then manager Martin Jol and the first team.

By the end of the season, the 6ft frontman was occasionally training with the first team and also playing for the reserve side.

Woodrow didn't look back from there and 12 goals in his opening nine matches for the Under-18s in 2012-2013 earned a promotion to the newly-formed Under-21 team.

He found the net against Middlesbrough (both home and away), Aston Villa and Liverpool, with an edge-of-the-box effort that surprised the goalkeeper and crashed in off the underside of the bar.

Woodrow was also part of the Fulham side that won the 2013 Dallas Cup, scoring twice against Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol in the final as they won 5-1.


Bright future ahead: Woodrow is set to feature in more Premier League matches before the end of the season as Fulham try to bridge the four-point gap to safety

He also captained the Under-18s to a second successive Premier Academy League title in 2013.

After starting the current season with six goals in six matches for the Under-21s, Woodrow was sent out on loan to Southend United in Sky Bet League Two to gain first-team experience.

Arriving on September 2, he was straight into Phil Brown's starting XI for his Football League debut against Morecambe five days later.

In all, he made 10 starts and nine substitute appearances for the Shrimpers, scoring against Exeter City in a 2-0 win and the winner at AFC Wimbledon on Boxing Day.

Although the loan deal was meant to last until the end of the season, Fulham were disappointed with the number of games he was starting and recalled him.


Gaining experience: Woodrow spent the first half of the season on loan at Southend, playing here in the FA Cup fourth round tie with Hull City at Roots Hall

It was a decision that also annoyed the Southend boss Brown: 'Fulham deciding to call back Cauley is disappointing news from my point of view.

'Fulham said they had done it because he wasn't starting matches but Cauley was certainly developing as a player with us and sampled an awful lot.'

However, as the last couple of weeks have shown, Fulham had grander ideas for the blond forward.

What's his style?
Woodrow is an out-and-out striker who knows his primary objective is to convert chances and he certainly has the clinical finish to achieve this.

He possesses smart movement in the box to drift away from markers and is adept at timing a run round the back of the defence to beat the offside trap.

He can utilise his strength to good effect to gain leverage over defenders in aerial duels and can also take a good penalty.


Behind you! Woodrow scored two goals for Southend during his loan spell and is seen here in action against Oxford United

How much is he worth?
Woodrow was worth a six-figure sum when he arrived at Fulham and, given his impressive scoring record at Under-18 and Under-21 levels, combined with subsequent first team appearances, there must now be an extra digit on that.

He is contracted to Fulham until 2016 and it seems unlikely that he will move on at this stage. However, if he continues to impress in the first team and the goals start flowing, then that situation could change.

The situation is also dependent on whether Fulham need to cut their playing budget should they drop into the Championship. Dropping down a level could mean more first-team opportunities for Woodrow as bigger earners are sold.

If it looks as though he won't be getting more top flight outings, Woodrow is still young enough to benefit from a loan spell at a Football League club.


Disappointment: Woodrow reacts after Cardiff scored their third goal in the 3-1 win last weekend. But his second senior appearance, against Newcastle, ended in a 1-0 win

How will he fit in?
Magath has been looking for his perfect front two since his arrival on February 14. In his first match at West Bromwich, it was Hugo Rodallega on his own up front.

In the home defeat to Chelsea, Darren Bent go the role, while at Cardiff, it was two up top with Woodrow partnered with Konstantinos Mitroglou.

And against Newcastle, Woodrow was the only striker with a trio of Alexander Kacaniklic, Lewis Holtby and Pajtim Kasami behind him.

Kasami and Woodrow linked up well, and Fulham claimed three vital points, so this could be the system Magath persists with. Ashkan Dejagah, who scored the winner, could be an alternative to Kasami in behind the young striker.

Manchester City 1-2 Fulham, Barclays U21 Premier League


Hands on: Cardiff defender Ben Turner gets to grips with Woodrow during the match at Cardiff City Stadium

Everyone has a weakness...
Woodrow was prolific for Fulham's youth teams but just the two goals during his loan spell at Southend was a slightly disappointing return.

While the experience at Roots Hall was useful, he might have hoped to score a few more, especially in a team performing well in League Two.

What happens next?
Fulham travel to Manchester City next and since it's not a game they can realistically expect to win, Magath is again likely to field a lone striker.

Woodrow is the leading candidate for that job at the moment, given that he retained his place where Rodallega, Bent and Mitroglou failed.

More first-team appearances are very likely between now and the end of the season but beyond that depends on whether Fulham survive.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2582719/In-Spotlight-Profile-Fulham-striker-Cauley-Woodrow.html#ixzz2wFWd6WMO
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[Rhys Lightning 63]

I knew it, one reasonably good game and suddenly the press starts with the... 'STEP RIGHT UP AND TAKE THIS PROMISING STRIKER, ONLY £5m, GET HIM WHILE HE'S AT A CLUB THAT SELLS OFF THEIR FUTURE, STEP RIGHT UP'

[General]

I knew it, one reasonably good game and suddenly the press starts with the... 'STEP RIGHT UP AND TAKE THIS PROMISING STRIKER, ONLY £5m, GET HIM WHILE HE'S AT A CLUB THAT SELLS OFF THEIR FUTURE, STEP RIGHT UP'

Get ahold of yourself man - stop being so irratically irrational.

[Jack Fulham]

He didn't look out of place on saturday which is promising. Some good passes in the final third as well. I look forward to seeing him play a bit more.

[Jack Fulham]

I knew it, one reasonably good game and suddenly the press starts with the... 'STEP RIGHT UP AND TAKE THIS PROMISING STRIKER, ONLY £5m, GET HIM WHILE HE'S AT A CLUB THAT SELLS OFF THEIR FUTURE, STEP RIGHT UP'

A 19 year old English striker starting in the prem is pretty unheard of in the premiership, especially after a relatively unsuccessful spell in league 2. No shame in the mail celebrating this.

[hovewhite]

Well done cauley and felix for giving him the chance.! And about time!

[zschwartz]

Woodrow looks a hell of a lot more up for it than mitroglou... better touch than rodallega & tracks back more/better than bent.

At cardiff he was anonymous and given the situation we're in i assumed magath would drop him. but he didn't. the improvement on display in the Newcastle match was significant. If (if) he continues to adapt and keeps up this level of effort he doesn't really have any competition for the single striker role at present.

I respect Magath for letting him have a second run to prove his worth. I do not know if it is enough but better than the alternatives.

[HatterDon]

Attention kenilworth Road: SEND MORE HATTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :HD:

[elgreenio]

What's his style?
Woodrow is an out-and-out striker who knows his primary objective is to convert chances and he certainly has the clinical finish to achieve this.

fp.gif no, just no.

[Black, White and Fred]

Woodrow looks a hell of a lot more up for it than mitroglou... better touch than rodallega & tracks back more/better than bent.

At cardiff he was anonymous and given the situation we're in i assumed magath would drop him. but he didn't. the improvement on display in the Newcastle match was significant. If (if) he continues to adapt and keeps up this level of effort he doesn't really have any competition for the single striker role at present.

I respect Magath for letting him have a second run to prove his worth. I do not know if it is enough but better than the alternatives.

I did say at the time that he wasn't that great against Cardiff as he was played out of position. He is a 9 not a 10. He will be good for us.

[TonyGilroy]

He is a 9 not a 10.

Absolute nonsense.

He's a 25.

[cmg]

What's his style?
Woodrow is an out-and-out striker who knows his primary objective is to convert chances and he certainly has the clinical finish to achieve this.

fp.gif no, just no.

Anyone who thinks that there is nothing more to Woodrow's game than hanging around up front should be shown the pass he provided for Dembele's second against Reading in last season's under18 final.

[simplyfulham]

What's his style?
Woodrow is an out-and-out striker who knows his primary objective is to convert chances and he certainly has the clinical finish to achieve this.

fp.gif no, just no.

Anyone who thinks that there is nothing more to Woodrow's game than hanging around up front should be shown the pass he provided for Dembele's second against Reading in last season's under18 final.

I sometimes find myself watching those highlights in order to forget how bad the first team have been this season.