Fulham boss Martin Jol has no doubts that, given time, Bryan Ruiz will show his true form. The 26-year-old £10million deadline-day signing from FC Twente has yet to find the net for the Cottagers.
Jol insists there is no point in trying to rush things with any player new to the hustle and bustle of the Barclays Premier League.
"When he signed I said 'give him three weeks' which was of course a joke. I feel 50% of the foreigners will not do well, it is very difficult when you come to this country. There is a group of players who need a couple of months, or even a year," Jol said.
"Bryan Ruiz is a quality player - don't forget Moussa Dembele needed seven or eight months to be the player he is now."
Jol added: "Of course I have to be patient with him and so do the fans - you have to have the same attitude with all the foreigners.
"We have got four good offensive players and Bryan can get all the time in the world if everybody is fine [fit].
"It is not about Ruiz, it is about the team.
"If you look at all the good teams, they have six or eight offensive players.
"In a year's time, it is important for me that you can look at his statistics, his productivity and then you will see Bryan Ruiz will be up there with our best players."
