Bologna forward Artem Dovbyk failed to register a single shot on target as Vincenzo Italiano's side fell 1-0 to Brighton in a pre-season friendly on August 16, with Hinshelwood's 58th-minute goal the only moment of note in an afternoon the Ukrainian striker will want to forget quickly.

The result is a footnote in isolation. Pre-season friendlies are rehearsals, not verdicts. But for a striker arriving at a new club with something to prove, a performance that produced zero attempts on goal does little to build confidence — his own or the supporters watching from the stands. Dovbyk needs an early foothold at Bologna, and this was not it.

The numbers from his current season offer limited reassurance. In 14 Serie A appearances, the 29-year-old has scored three goals and contributed one assist, averaging a rating of 6.50 — functional, but not the output that justifies a leading striker's billing. His AI Overall score of 66 out of 100, with a potential ceiling of 58, suggests the analytical models see a player already past his developmental peak rather than one about to unlock a higher level.

Bologna sit eighth in Serie A with 56 points from 38 matches, a record of 16 wins, eight draws and 14 defeats. The club has scored 49 goals and conceded 46 — a thin positive margin that underlines how much they need their centre-forward to be decisive rather than merely present. The departure of Jhon Lucumí to Juventus also strips the squad of a key defensive figure, placing greater pressure on the attacking end to compensate.

Dovbyk has the Serie A experience to find his rhythm. The question is whether Italiano's patience, and the calendar, will give him the time to do so before the season's shape is set.