Southampton manager Ivan Jurić has praised Paul Onuachu for his resilience after the Nigerian striker scored his first Premier League goal, despite the team’s 3-2 loss.
Onuachu, who had struggled to find the net in his earlier appearances for the club, finally broke his goal drought with a powerful header from a Mateus Fernandes cross in the dying minutes of the match.
Onuachu on flight to his first PL goal( Photo by imago)
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to secure a point for the Saints.
In his post-match comments, Jurić expressed his belief in Onuachu’s abilities, saying,
“I think Paul has quality. He wants to score, he is a fighter. This is the quality, and I want players with quality. I think Paul can give us a lot.”
Onuachu joined Southampton in January 2023 but had a tough start at the club.
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After a successful loan spell at Trabzonspor, where he scored 17 goals and provided four assists, he returned to Southampton hoping to prove himself.
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His first Premier League goal came 658 days after his debut against Brentford, and it arrives at a critical time for the Saints, who remain in the relegation zone with only six points from 22 matches.