Martin Jol has admitted the signing of Pavel Pogrebnyak to replace the outgoing Bobby Zamora at Fulham was a transfer gamble.
The Cottagers boss allowed England international hitman, Zamora, to depart Craven Cottage for rivals QPR on transfer deadline day and moved quickly to snap up Russian forward, Pogrebnyak, on a six-month loan deal from German Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart.
Jol has since revealed that Pogrebnyak has struggled to recapture the form which saw him become a real hit in his homeland earlier in his career.
But the Dutchman is hoping a move to the Premier League can spark him back into life in the second half of this season.
"He's not had a great couple of years, but if he had we wouldn't have got him," Jol told The Mirror.
"I spoke to (Russia boss) Dick Advocaat and (predecessor) Guus Hiddink about him and they told me he's got 45 caps and he's had some great spells.
"
It's a very good opportunity for him and us, but he has to prove it now."
Pogrebnyak is hoping to get his work permit granted in time for him to make his Fulham debut against Stoke at Craven Cottage on Saturday.