Nigerian international could be available for injury hit Saints next weekend
Edwin Emeanua
Russell Martin’s injury ravaged Saints could get a lifeline with the likely return of towering forward Paul Onuachu next weekend.
The Nigeria international last played for Southampton in their 2-3 home loss to Premier League leaders, Liverpool.
The 30-year-old Saints striker was replaced by Lesley Oguchukwu, 20, on the 52nd minute mark on November 24 at the St. Mary’s Stadium against Liverpool when he went down clutching his knee following a reckless Darwin Nunez tackle.
It was initially feared that the Nigerian had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury but that fear was quickly allayed immediately after the match by his manager who said the striker was likely suffering from fatigue.
The Liverpool match was Onuachu’s first Premier League start this season. Though, the Saints striker put in a formidable shift against Liverpool, the manner of exit from the tie left a bitter taste.
He missed the 1-1 draw with Brighton the following Friday and Saints 1-5 mauling by second placed Chelsea in the midweek after that when hopes of his return to the lineup was high.
The Nigerian has appeared for the Saints six times in the league and once in EFL action this season with no goal scored.
The Nigerian has logged a total of 111′ in the Premier League and 23′ in the EFL for a total of 134 cumulative first class footballing time this season.
He is a 1 time Belgium Footballer of the Year winner in 2021 when he also scored 33 Goals Jupiler Pro League goals to emerge the top scorer in Belgium in the 2020-2021 season. Onuachu also won the Belgian Cup with KRC Genk in 2021.
In the seasons of 2014/15 and 2017/18 the gangling Nigerian forward won the Danish Championship with FC FC Midtjylland. He also won the Danish Cup with FC Midtjylland in the 2018/19 season.
