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One To Watch – Sylvan Ebanks-Blake

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Prolific forward Sylvan Ebanks-Blake by Vital QPR as Wolves` One To Watch going into this weekend`s televised clash.

The Cambridge born forward was plying his trade among his local leagues before making a move to Manchester United. What some would describe a dream move may not have been considered so for Ebanks-Blake, a boyhood Liverpool supporter.

In October 2004 the 5″10 forward made his debut for Manchester United in the Carling Cup away to Crewe Alexandra, the 3-0 win capped off the day for Ebanks-Blake.

The forward had to wait a year before his next first team appearance, but bagged a goal as United coasted past Barnet, 4-1 at Old Trafford. The Bees cause wasn`t helped by the sending off of goalkeeper Ross Flitney in the opening two minutes for handball outside the area.

In January 2006 Ebanks-Blake made the move to Belgian feeder club Royal Antwerp, where he bagged four goals in nine appearances at the Bosuilstadion

Due to limited first team opportunities at Old Trafford, the forward made the move to Ian Holloway`s Plymouth Arygle for a £300,000 price tag, a fee that proved a real coup for the Pilgrims.

A decent season with Argyle saw him equalise against Queens Park Rangers at Home Park after Dexter Blackstock had opened the scoring for Gary Waddock`s men.

From then on Ebanks-Blake kicked on, finishing the season in blistering form scoring four goals in five games. Summer rumours linking him with a move away from Home Park were quashed as he started the 2007/08 campaign, as he left the previous season, with plenty of goals.

11 goals saw him bag braces against Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers. Against Rangers he won the game for Argyle firstly from the spot, then in the final minute after some tentative defending by now Plymouth player Simon Walton.

Rangers were believed to be one of the sides sniffing round the highly rated forward in the January transfer window, but the striker opted to sign for Wolverhampton Wanderers, after their £1.5m bid triggered a release clause in his contract.

He scored a further 12 goals, taking his eventual tally for 2007/08 to an excellent 23 goals, seeing him finish top of the goal scoring charts in the Championship. Yet another goal came against Queens Park Rangers, once again from the penalty spot after the softest decision you`re ever likely to see by Referee Clive Oliver. Matthew Jarvis` swallow dive took place outside the area, and Michael Mancienne was adjudged to have felled the former Gillingham man inside the box.

Ebanks-Blake has once again started the season on a high, bagging 12 goals in 19 appearances, scoring two in the last two games against promotion rivals Sheffield United and Birmingham City.

The former Manchester Untied forward will once again provide formidable opposition alongside Scottish international and Championship journeyman Chris Iwelumo.

An example of his talent is outlined in this his second strike against Charlton Athletic last season:



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