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Jutkiewicz is struggling for numbers this year, but it can’t all be down to him – Opinion

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His numbers aren’t what they have been in the past, are the fans asking too much of him?

Lukas Jutkiewicz is now the main man up top for Birmingham City, and journalist Brian Dick believes that part of the reason that he hasn’t been able to produce at the same level this season, is because of his lack of a decent partner up front with him, having lost all of Che Adams’ goals during the summer when he left for Southampton. Speaking during a Q&A for Birmingham Live, Dick said:

“Would Juke like more crosses into the box? Undoubtedly. But he’s never made it about himself and I think any criticism of his goal return has roots in the fact he’s not got Che Adams banging them in alongside him.”

This is why I think that there needs to be a little bit more understanding when it comes to Jutkiewicz, because whereas in previous year he had someone to share the workload with upfront, now he is essentially being asked to do the majority of the work on his own, so there’s going to be a little bit more scrutiny on him and his return.

And that is why it’s so important for the other players to start picking up some of the slack. It’s why I’ve spoken before about the likes of Jeremie Bela and how much pressure and expectation has been put on his shoulders now that he’s come into the club, but the same can be said about the rest of the forwards like Alvarao Gimenez, Kerim Mrabti and to a lesser extent the midfielders like Fran Villalba and Dan Crowley.

The more that they chip in, the less scrutiny will be placed on Jutkiewicz as the season goes on.

Has Juke underperformed this season?

Yes

No

That way when he gets dropped, as he did for Sheffield Wednesday, there won’t be as much concern about where the goals are going to come from.

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