We all know the feeling, we turn up to watch our team, full of expectation. We look with excitement at the starting line-up, only to find that one key player, who we just knew would be the one to make the difference here, has been named amongst the substitutes. Maybe you just had a feeling about him today, maybe you had a fiver on him to score first.
“Why’s he not started him!?”, you may shout. But fear not avid football supporter. Starting on the bench doesn’t have to be the end of your favourite player's impact on the game. Not if the following Premier League ‘Super-Subs’ are anything to go by.
Javier Hernández
On Saturday when Manchester United found themselves 2-0 down at Aston Villa they called for the Little Pea, Chicharito, Javier Hernández. 45 minutes later and United are 3-2 up. Hernández forcing an own-goal from Ron Vlaar and scoring two himself. A telling contribution from the bench if ever there was one.
It’s something that Hernández has quickly garnered a reputation for, scoring 10 Premier League goals while coming off the subs bench. And, arguably, beginning to follow in the footsteps of a Manchester United legend who fit a similar mould.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
The Norwegian hitman is revered among United’s fan base for his goal scoring exploits, many of which came from the subs bench. In a United squad that also boasted Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham playing time was always going to be scarce. But Solskjaer always found a way to make an impression whether playing the full 90 or not.
Solskjaer scored a phenomenal 17 Premier League goals as a substitute, including an incredible 4 in the space of just 10 minutes against Nottingham Forest. But 3 months after this amazing feat he eclipsed it altogether by coming off the bench to score the now famous winner in the last minute of the 1999 Champions League final.
Edin Džeko
Recently the ‘Super Sub’ moniker has landed in the lap of Manchester City forward Edin Džeko. Behind the first choice pairing of Sergio Agüero and Carlos Tévez, Džeko has been a reluctant hero, the Bosnian keen to be given the chance to impress from the start rather than off the bench.
But, despite his limited playing time, he has found himself as City’s leading goal scorer this season and it’s been easy for all to see that Džeko is an invaluable asset to have coming into the game late. He has 11 goals as a substitute during his short time in English football, most recently scoring late against Spurs in City’s 2-1 win.
Nwankwo Kanu
As much as Hernández, Solskjaer and Džeko have made the headlines as goal scoring subs, Nwankwo Kanu’s own adventures from the bench have fallen relatively under the radar. During a Premier League career that saw him turn out for Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth, Kanu scored 17 Premier League goals as a substitute. A feat matched by only Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and bettered by only one other.
Most amazingly, 15 of Kanu’s 17 goals as a sub have come at home, explaining to a certain extent his popularity with the home support wherever he’s been.
Jermain Defoe
I mentioned before that only one person has surpassed Kanu and Solskjaer in this ‘goals from the bench’ contest and that man is serial goal-getter Jermain Defoe. Another striker who is reluctant to have the ‘super-sub’ label, Defoe has scored 20 goals (and counting) as a Premier League substitute but would clearly much rather ply his trade from kick off.
This 20 goal haul has seen him find the net for West Ham United, Portsmouth and during two spells for Tottenham Hotspur. Clinical for both club and country, Defoe is also England’s leading scoring substitute, managing 7 goals from the bench for the national team.
His form this season has seen him start more games on the pitch rather than in the dugout, but it must be reassuring for him (and Spurs fans) to know that should he not be in the first 11 he’s still more than capable of making an impact.
Everyone wants to start games, it’s human nature to want to be as involved as possible. But football, especially scoring goals, is all about making the most of the opportunities that are presented to you. And all the players mentioned above are highlighted because they are renowned for maximising the often limited opportunities they are given.
Also, a lesson learned for any Sunday league footballers. When you’re next standing on the sidelines in the freezing cold and the pouring rain, don’t get too downhearted. If you follow the stellar example set by Hernández, Džeko and others like them then you could still have a vital part to play.