They say never go back a second time. Fowler's second return to Liverpool didn't result in glory. But Michael Chopra's several returns to our club didn't turn out too bad. 22 goals in 42 games when he was first with us. He returned in 2008 on loan and bagged 5 goals in 11 games. 4 in 16 in 2009 (OK not so good). Then 25 in 73 between 2009-11. Not so magical but not a disaster. There is no rule here on "sloppy seconds" for former players. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

With that in mind, look at Sory Kaba. Currently at Las Palmas on a reputed 15k Euros (12-13k GBP a week) he has only played in 12 out of possible 30 games. How as he done? 1 goal. A disaster. Good overall consistent record wherever he has been other than Las Palmas

YEAR CLUB APPS GOALS
2014–2016 Alcobendas 52 (13)
2016–2017 Elche B 32 (14)
2017–2019 Elche 59 (22)
2019–2023 Midtjylland 73 (20)
2021–2022 → OH Leuven 26 (10)
2023 → Cardiff City (loan) 17 (8)

So how's this? We flog the failing and immobile and goal-shy duo of Etete and Meite up front. Go back for Kieffer Moore and Sory Kaba up front, to complement Robinson at 10 / wide / striker. That is three option for mobile forwards in our 4-5-1 system. Robinson, Colwill or Turnbull at 10.

Take Rambo off the wage bill (and appoint as coach / ambassador). Sell Meite, Etete, Wintle, Sawyers , Rinomohta and injury prone O' Dowda. Surely that creates the wages headroom and some purchase money. Buy some mobile and younger centre mids, and Robinson, Colwill and Turnbull can be our creatives and build around them.

So how feasible is Kaba? Well Kaba was sold for 2m Euros to Las Palmas. Surely an offer of £800k-1m and a wage offer of 12-13k GBP a week would bring him back for a sloppy seconds? I reckon Colwill and Turnbull putting the balls in behind for Moore/Kaba up front, and Bowler / Ashford / Tanner / Robinson running in behind would transform our attack and get pace and goals back. And look at the league table - defence has been OK-ish. It is goals that we are missing. A good summer can be done. Go on Kaba, you know you want to!!

We can get a song going after Eddie Grant's "Baby Come Back": "Kaba come back......"