Can Abdallah Sima find a way back at Lens?

Abdallah Sima has looked on from the sidelines more often than not this season at Stade Boelleart, since signing for the Sang & Or from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion during the summer.  It was finally time for the Senegalese striker to move on from the English side, from where he had spent loan spells at Stoke City, Angers, Rangers and most famously at Stade Brestois last season. With Les Pirates, Sima scored 10 goals in 39 appearances and became an important figure up front for Eric Roy's side in their historic maiden campaign in Europe and the UEFA Champions League.

Yet Sima's move to Lens has proved difficult so far this season, with Lens' barnstorming form in Ligue 1 McDonald's making competition for places tough under Pierre Sage. There is plenty of attacking threat from star man Florian Thauvin, with Wesley Saïd and Odsonne Édouard's equally impressive performances this season keeping Sima out of the starting XI.

Impact off the bench against Sochaux

Yet against Sochaux in the Coupe de France, Sima's cameo off the bench became a reminder of the Senegal man's quality - and that he perhaps shouldn't be forgotten in the months to come in a gold and red shirt. Coming on in the 84th minute, Sima provided the assist for Mathieu Udol and Lens' second goal of the afternoon - before the attacker got on the scoresheet himself in the 89th minute after a chip over the keeper from Thuavin. It's a win which has extended Lens' winning run to nine straight games, which is the longest such run in the club's history.

The 24 year-old scored his first goal since moving to Northern France, and will be hoping to kick-on in the rest of the season with the games coming thick and fast - including a tabletopping clash against Olympique de Marseille on the 24th January. 

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