Chuba Akpom has bemoaned a couple of “terrible” months at Ajax, after finally getting himself going with his new club.

Former Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom joined AFC Ajax over the summer, but his start to the season couldn’t have gone much worse.

Ajax had a disastrous run of form from Akpom’s debut in September to the end of October, sitting at the very bottom of the league at one point.

Akpom himself made just one start and seven substitute appearances, and he struggled to get off the mark on the goalscoring front in those circumstances.

Yet things are quickly improving for the 28-year-old and his new club.

Ajax parted ways with head coach Maurice Steijn, eventually replacing him with John van ‘t Schip at the end of October, and they’ve won both of their games with the new man in charge.

Akpom didn’t start either match, but he scored three goals from the bench, netting Ajax’s second against FC Volendam and their third and fourth against SC Heerenveen.

He could even have had a hat-trick against Heerenveen, despite playing just 17 minutes, having another close-range shot well saved.

Speaking afterwards, Akpom credited the new manager with turning things around for him.

“It was a terrible first 2 months here if I am being honest,” Akpom said. “The new manager has made me feel more at home than I have ever felt since arriving.

“We are footballers, we are human beings first. He spoke to me as a human being, not as a footballer.

“Ever since the new manager arrived I feel much lighter, back to myself.”

You can see Akpom’s goal against Volendam here or below from the timestamp 7:30.

And you can watch both of Akpom’s goals against Heerenveen here or below at the timestamps 7:55 and 8:50.