At the beginning of the year, Raphael Dwamena’s exclusion from the Black Stars’ Cup of Nations squad generated much discontent among Ghanaians. The striker had no cap on the international stage or at any junior level.

Yet his numbers at then club side, Austria Lustenau (18 goals), was enough to convince Ghanaians he could be the missing piece to their goal scoring jigsaw. Fans who thronged the Aquinas Park in Labone were bemused as to how a player as lethal as him in front of goal could be dropped for relative unknowns.

Five months down the line, he made his long awaited debut for Ghana and although it was against lowly-placed Ethiopia, he made his mark banging a brace to cement his status as a proven goal scorer.

In between this, he earned a move to Switzerland where he continued with this impressive vein of scoring form with 14 goals for FC Zurich and all his good work did not go unnoticed……..

The lanky striker is set to join newly-promoted Brighton & Hove Albion with the expectation of finding goals for Chris Hughton’s side who are yet to score in 180 minutes of Premier League action. The move was never expected, not as huge as has been during the summer window but one which could prove to be one of the bargains of the season.

In 8 months, he has moved from being snubbed from the Black Stars to scoring on his international debut and now a Premier League player.

WHAT TO EXPEC FROM DWAMENA IN ENGLAND:

Dwamena has proven he knows his way to goal but if there is one thing which will serve him well, it is the physical aspect.

The left-footed striker is well-built and accustomed to the rough and tumble of the league. He has the ability to play with his back facing goal, hold-up play as well as run down the channels with his pace. With Brighton set to sit deep in the half in games against the elite clubs, (reference to their 2-0 loss against Man City) his ability to hold the ball to relieve some pressure will come in handy.

Old-guard Glenn Murray started in their last Premier League game against Leicester and lacked the dynamism and energy to trouble the Foxes backline, one they will be assured in Dwamena who has a good turn of pace for his size.  He has also shown he could well play with a partner up front after a solid partnership with Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan on his Ghana debut.

The fluency and understanding provided hope in what could blossom to become a productive front 2.

 

His biggest weapon is his left foot, reminiscent of Ghanaian legend Tony Yeboah who is highly revered in England for scoring one of the best goals in the Premier League era.

His wonder strike for Leeds has somewhat been emulated by Dwamena while in Switzerland.

Despite the comparison, the young striker is keeping his head down as he looks to also cement his place as one of Ghana’s finest

“Tony Yeboah was a great player for Ghana and as a young player; you will definitely have someone to look up to," he told KweseESPN.

“I cannot be like him because I have not reached his level yet. I can only hope to get anywhere closer to what he did."

His first few impressions have been short of good but in a new league and surroundings,  where media attention is at a high, that will count for nothing if he fails to replicate his form from Austria and Switzerland.

In Davy Propper, Anthony Knockaert and new record signing José Izquierdo, Dwamena would have brilliant players who could provide him the right service to reach higher heights.