Akor Adams: Is there cause for Nigerian striker to worry as Montpellier sink into Ligue 1 relegation trouble?

The former Lillestrom star has hit a rough patch in the French top flight and needs to rediscover his scoring boots as his club enters a key period in their season

Nigerian striker Akor Adams will feel concerned for himself and Montpellier following his goalscoring drought in the French Ligue 1, Soccernet.ng reports.

Adams’s goalscoring ability is not in doubt, as the 24-year-old netted 15 goals in his last 14 games in the Norwegian top flight before switching to France.

After joining Montpellier in August, Adams picked up his scoring run where he left off in Norway, smashing in seven goals in his first nine games in France.

However, Adams has hit a rough patch, having not found the net in his last 13 Ligue 1 games.

The former Lillestrom ace has not scored a league goal since his excellent brace in Montpellier’s 3-0 victory over Toulouse on October 29th.

Interestingly, Adams’ poor run has coincided with Montpellier’s, with the club registering just one league win – a 1-0 triumph over Metz in December – since that victory at home to Toulouse.

A record of one win in ten games has seen Montpellier sink into relegation trouble, with La Pallaide now down in 15th place, equal on point with Lorient, who occupy the relegation playoff spot.

Montpellier will face 17th-placed Metz again on Sunday, with a win important for both teams’ survival hopes.

Adams, at his peak, would have readily given Montpellier the edge, but the misfiring striker is under pressure to get his first league goal of the year.

Still, Montpellier’s manager, Michel Der Zakarian, believes Adams is the man to lead the club out of their present difficulties.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Der Zakarian revealed the Nigerian striker is making the right runs and movements in games and will soon get back on the goal train.

“Akor Adams, we only talk to him with my staff. We trust him,” Der Zakarian said.

“It’s up to him to be effective in front of goal. There were other attackers before him who had holes. He must find the net again, quite simply, by being aggressive as required in front of goal.

“He must continue to move as he does because if he has the opportunities, it is because he is moving well and he is in the right place. We must then conclude.

“We don’t repeat things to him; he’s a big boy. Don’t worry, he’ll get there.”

Adams reminded many of his goalscoring abilities when he netted two goals in Montpellier’s 4-0 thrashing of lower-tier Feignies Aulnoye in the Coupe de France on January 6.