Rooks poised to sign new striker

8:00am Friday 5th September 2008

Lewes expect to have a new striker in their line-up at home to Barrow tomorrow.

The Rooks are trying to complete the signing of former Queens Park Rangers and Dagenham frontman Shabazz Baidoo.

Baidoo played in the final pre-season friendly against Havant and Waterlooville but budget constraints meant he was not offered terms.

However, manager Kevin Keehan has returned to the 21-year-old who scored three goals in 28 League appearances for QPR before being released last January.

Baidoo, a free agent, could play up front alongside Scott Taylor if Keehan decided to switch to a 4-4-2 formation or at right-midfield if he retained the 4-5-1 line-up he fielded at Woking on Tuesday.

Stefan Cox came into the side for that game on the left-hand side of midfield and his pace gave Lewes an extra dimension going forward.

Keehan is hoping Baidoo can make a similar impact to a Rooks side who are without a win after seven games.

It has been a tough start to the season but one of the few bright sparks has been the manager’s son.

Joe Keehan has caught the eye with a series of impressive displays at the heart of midfield.

When the 21-year-old arrived from Worthing in the summer there were groans of discontent from supporters, not to mention suggestions of favouritism.

But Keehan, who played previously in Blue Square premier with Crawley Town, has shown he is in the team on merit.

He is certainly not the finished article – as his father will point out – but Keehan junior is determined to keep improving and keep winning over the doubters.

He said: “I am enjoying it. It is great playing for Lewes Football Club and great playing for my dad as well.

“I spoke to my old man before signing to establish where we stood. He is not going to be biased if I am playing bad he will take me off. At the moment I am doing all right and hopefully I will keep doing so.

“We have a great bunch of lads and they all want to do their best. We all need to get together now, we can’t let our heads drop and we need to push on.

“We have done well in patches and not in others. We need to get it right for 90 minutes.”

Keehan chipped in with a few goals at Ryman division one level for Horsham YMCA and Worthing last season but has taken on a different role with the Rooks.

He has hinted he could be a threat from set-pieces but his main job is to be the boss in a five-man midfield.

Keehan said: “At the start of the season I wasn’t going to be in the sitting role, I was going to be more attacking but we were looking for someone to take on that role. The gaffer played me there and I did all right.

“I think I have done all right since but hopefully we will get a win soon.

“I was full-time at Crawley and then went part-time at Eastbourne which killed me quite a bit because fitness wise I lost it.

“Then I went to Worthing and came here. I worked hard this summer, I want to improve and I want to keep my fitness as well.”

Lewes will again be without skipper Danny Cullip (hamstring) and Chris Breach (shoulder) while Danny Davis is also ruled out with a back injury.

Craig Richards hopes to be fit despite an on-going groin problem while Zac Beda could come into contention for a starting place.

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