By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 21, 2025

Southampton coach Ivan Juric described Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu as a tough fighter after the lanky forward scored his first goal for the Saints, two years after joining them, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The striker netted an emphatic header in added time during Southampton’s 3-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, although the result took the shine off that moment, it was a soothing balm for Onuachu who joined the club in the 2023 January transfer window.

Onuachu came off the bench on 58 minutes at the City Ground with Saints 3-0 down and he quickly helped spark what was almost a sensational comeback, helping to tee up his team’s first goal with an excellent knock-down to fellow sub-Lesley Ugochukwu, whose shot flicked in off Jan Bednarek, before he headed in from a Mateus Fernandes corner at the start of added time.

“There are some players that I like, they have some quality and he has this quality. He’s tough, he’s a fighter, he’s tall with the ability to head,” Juric said after the game.

“He’s very good and he will give everything he can. I think he will be very good for us. I’m very happy for him that he scored today,” he added.

Onuachu arrived at Southampton from Belgian club Genk in January 2023 for a fee of around €18m but he had to go on a loan last term after a futile first six months on the south coast. In Belgium, where he spent four years with Genk, he scored 79 goals in 114 appearances.

Last season, the 30-year-old rediscovered his goal-scoring form at Trabzonspor in Turkey, scoring 15 goals and four assists in 21 league games.

After 12 Premier League games this season, the Nigerian striker has finally broken his goal drought and dedicated it to the fans.

“They’ve been brilliant. Even though we’ve been last in the table they’ve been travelling everywhere, full everywhere, I mean I’m just going to dedicate this goal to them because they’ve been supportive, to be honest, they’re cheering for me when sometimes I’ve played a good game, played not so good game, they are still ‘Paul, come one, come on’ and still cheering. It’s nice to see,” he said.

In recent weeks, the forward has been linked with a potential move away from Southampton in January, with Turkish clubs Trabzonspor and Beşiktaş reported to be interested.

Source Punch Ng

Posted January 21, 2025

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