Austin Samuels (born 20 November 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, as a forward.

Austin Samuels
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-11-20) 20 November 2000 (age 23)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Number 11
Youth career
2009–2019 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 (0)
2020Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 6 (0)
2020–2021Bradford City (loan) 12 (0)
2021–2022Aberdeen (loan) 7 (0)
2022– Inverness Caledonian Thistle 37 (4)
International career
England youth
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:12, 13 December 2023 (UTC)

Club career edit

Samuels began his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, joining them at the age of 8.[1] He made his first-team debut at the age of 16 in July 2017 in a friendly match against Peterborough United, scoring the only goal of the game.[2]

He moved on loan to Kidderminster Harriers in January 2020,[1][3] and on loan to Bradford City in October 2020.[4][5][6] In November 2020 he was one of a number of young Bradford City players playing in the first team who were praised by manager Stuart McCall.[7] He scored his first goal for the club, and his first professional goal, when he scored in a 7–0 FA Cup win over Tonbridge Angels on 7 November 2020.[8] Later that month Samuels said that he was growing in confidence as he played more first-team matches.[9] His loan ended early on 13 January 2021.[10][11][12]

In August 2021 he moved on loan to Scottish club Aberdeen for the season.[13] The loan ended early, in January 2022.[14]

He signed for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in January 2022,[15][16] later suffering an injury which saw him out-of-action for over 5 months, returning in February 2023.[17] He signed a new contract in June 2023.[18][19] At the start of the 2023–24 season, he said the club needed to maintain form in order to be promoted.[20]

International career edit

Samuels was an England youth international.[13]

Playing style edit

Samuels is known for his pace.[21][22] When he joined Inverness he was utilised more as a winger than a centre forward.[23]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 7 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s 2018–19 EFL Trophy[24] 1[a] 0 1 0
2019–20 EFL Trophy[25] 3[a] 0 3 1
2020–21 EFL Trophy[26] 2[a] 1 2 1
Total 6 2 6 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2019–20[25] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020–21[26] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021–22[27] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 2019–20[28] National League North 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Bradford City (loan) 2020–21[26] League Two 12 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 14 1
Aberdeen (loan) 2021–22[27] Scottish Premiership 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2021–22[27] Scottish Championship 13 1 0 0 0 0 6[b] 2 19 3
2022–23[29] Scottish Championship 17 3 3 0 4 1 0 0 24 4
2023–24[30] Scottish Championship 7 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 12 0
Total 37 4 3 0 9 1 6 2 55 7
Career total 62 4 5 1 9 1 12 4 88 10
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.
  2. ^ Appearances in the play-offs.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Austin Samuels". Official Website of the Harriers – Kidderminster Harriers FC.
  2. ^ Hatfield, Luke (25 July 2017). "Austin Samuels: Twitter reacts to Wolves youngster's stunning first-team debut". www.expressandstar.com.
  3. ^ "Wolves prospect arrives at Harriers on loan". Worcester News.
  4. ^ "Samuels heads to the EFL". www.wolves.co.uk.
  5. ^ "Wolves striker Samuels joins Bradford City on loan". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  6. ^ "Bradford add Wolves' Samuels on loan". BBC Sport.
  7. ^ "McCall insists age is irrelevant as young guns look to help City turn a corner". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  8. ^ "Tonbridge 0–7 Bradford City". BBC. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Tough time for Bantams but loanee Samuels aiming to thrive on the pressure". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  10. ^ "SAMUELS RETURNS TO WOLVES". www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk.
  11. ^ "Bradford City send striker Samuels back to Wolves". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  12. ^ "Austin Samuels returns to Wolves as Bradford City squad realignment continues". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk.
  13. ^ a b "Aberdeen sign Wolves' Samuels on loan". BBC Sport.
  14. ^ Third, Paul. "Austin Samuels returns to Wolves after loan cut short with Aberdeen".
  15. ^ "Caley Thistle sign striker from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a permanent deal". 28 January 2022.
  16. ^ Chalk, Paul. "Confirmed - Caley Thistle sign Wolves and ex-Aberdeen striker Austin Samuels on permanent deal".
  17. ^ Goodwin, Sophie (20 February 2023). "Austin Samuels glad to quash rumours by making Caley Thistle comeback against Hamilton Accies".
  18. ^ Chalk, Paul (19 June 2023). "Forward Austin Samuels nets new deal at Caley Thistle".
  19. ^ "Samuels signs contract extension with ICT". Inverness Courier. 19 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Striker says Caley Thistle can't allow form to get stuck in middle again". Inverness Courier. 21 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Austin Samuels will provide pace and movement for Bradford City". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk.
  22. ^ Palmer, Mark (31 December 2023). "Speed merchant Austin Samuels is looking for the finishing touch" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  23. ^ "Forward happy on learning how to wing it with Caley Thistle". Inverness Courier. 10 March 2022.
  24. ^ "Games played by Austin Samuels in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Games played by Austin Samuels in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  26. ^ a b c "Games played by Austin Samuels in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  27. ^ a b c "Games played by Austin Samuels in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  28. ^ Austin Samuels at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  29. ^ "Games played by Austin Samuels in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  30. ^ "Games played by Austin Samuels in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2023.