One to Watch – Lewis Grabban

Name: Lewis Grabban

Date of Birth: 12/1/1988

Nationality: England

Former Clubs: Crystal Palace, Oldham, Motherwell, Millwall, Brentford, Rotherham

League Appearances (Goals): 232 (67)

International Appearances (Goals): 0 (0)

Stat of the Day: Lewis Grabban has scored a brace in each of his last two league games

Player Profile: Will Keane may like to take note of Lewis Grabban`s career; it took Grabban 16 games before he scored his first goal in professional football, even then could only muster four goals in his first 43 appearances and probably went about six seasons playing regularly before he finally came to prominence as a recognised league striker. With Keane looking more likely to score an own goal than in the opposition`s net at the moment, he can take solace from the fact that some clubs are willing to take a chance on unproven strikers over and over again. Grabban has finally repaid the faith shown in him by Rotherham and Bournemouth as his goals have helped both clubs in their bids for promotion in recent seasons.

With a hot streak of goals comes the inevitable interest from other clubs and the striker eventually put pen to paper on a new deal at Dean Court following strong pursuits from both Brighton and QPR in January. Rated at over £1 million, Grabban has 19 league goals to his name this campaign putting him sixth in the division`s goalscoring charts. His pace and eye for goal, albeit more prominent away from home than in Dorset, have put him amongst the league`s influential goalscorers and have given a real course to the Cherrie`s late playoff push. Grabban has been known to operate on the wing but his best form, and run of goalscoring prowess, has come when causing defences problems playing up front.

Player History:

Lewis Grabban joined Crystal Palace at the age of 13 and having made his way through the youth teams was handed his debut in a 3-0 victory over Walsall in the League Cup in 2005. At the beginning of the 2006/2007 season the striker joined Oldham on loan before he was recalled by Palace having made 10 appearances at Boundary Park. His first goal in professional football came for Palace in March 2007 in a 3-2 victory over West Brom.

The following season Grabban joined Motherwell on loan until January but could only muster five appearances without finding the net in Scotland. Following the striker`s latest loan spell Palace`s London rivals Millwall moved to sign the striker for a fee of £150,000 on a three -and-a-half year deal in 2008. Grabban`s time spent at The Den was again largely unprofitable as he could only manage 9 goals in 58 league appearances in South London. His three years at Millwall was interspersed with two separate loan spells at Brentford before he eventually joined the Bees on a free transfer in 2011.

Four goals in 18 appearances failed to earn Grabban a new contract at Griffin Park as he eventually reunited with former manager Andy Scott at League Two side Rotherham United in 2011. He scored on his debut for the club and went on to score 12 goals in his first 24 appearances for The Millers, leading to a derisory bid of £100,000 from Crawley Town in January. He finished the 2011/2012 campaign with a total of 21 goals in 47 appearances.

Bournemouth moved to sign the striker for a fee of £300,000 in May 2012 and 13 goals in all competitions helped The Cherries to secure promotion to the Championship from League One in 2013. He scored a brace on the opening day of the 2013/2014 season in a 2-1 victory over Charlton and already has 19 league goals to his name. Interest from Brighton and QPR was averted in January 2014 as he pledged his future to Bournemouth, signing a new three-and-a-half year deal at Dean Court.