Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira delivered both praise and caution after Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare netted his first goal in English football during a 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Everton on Tuesday night.

The summer deadline-day signing from Racing Genk struck in the 87th minute, lifting the ball over the goalkeeper to seal Wolves’ passage into the fourth round after Joao Gomes’ incisive pass.

It was the Super Eagles forward’s first goal in three appearances, coming after 174 minutes of action in gold and black.

Praise and warning

Pereira commended Arokodare’s contribution off the bench but warned that the striker is still short of the physical sharpness required to thrive in English football.

“When we are expecting a strong shot on goal, he has confidence in himself,” the coach told the club’s website. “Of course, he is not in his shape physically speaking. He helped us, but he must keep working. This is the spirit I want to see.”

Path to improvement

The Portuguese coach admitted that Arokodare was eased in carefully as he adjusts to the Premier League’s demands.

“The plan was not to play him 90 minutes. It was to give him time to adapt and get minutes,” Pereira said. “He needs to work hard to reach full condition, and then he will help us.”

Wolves will discover their fourth-round opponents when the Carabao Cup draw takes place on Wednesday night.