Keeping Adebayo Akinfenwa quiet is a target for Cambridge United

U's hoping to keep Wycombe striker out of the goals

Silencing Wycombe Wanderers striker Adebayo Akinfenwa could be one of the major challenges for Cambridge United in Sky Bet League Two on Saturday (May 6).

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth has nurtured a style of play that has served the Chairboys well this season, and one that has helped the 34-year-old striker flourish.

“We’ve encountered Wycombe two or three times since I’ve been manager here, and I fully respect every style of play that you encounter,” said United boss Shaun Derry.

“I’m not a purist by any stretch of the imagination, it’s horses for courses. You make sure that at the end of 90 minutes you give yourself the best possible chance of getting the result.

“In a centre forward like Akinfenwa, you play to his strengths, Gareth will be absolutely foolish to do anything different.

“I’m not even going to sit here and tell Gareth how to do his job. He has been incredibly successful at his football club for the five years that he’s been there, and overachieved himself.

“I think everyone realises just what a strength they’ve got, and having played against that type of opponent a couple of times before – and they are very different to a lot of teams in our level – we have to be respectful of what they can bring.”

Akinfenwa is a formidable foe given his stature, and he has scored 12 goals this season.

“You have got the big man there who is not just a force in terms of the way he looks and the way he plays, but he backs it up with goals,” said Derry.

“He is a good player as well, and fair credit to Gareth for taking that decision to bring him in during the summer. He has been a major big player in the way they’ve had success this year.”