Following Paul Onuachu’s long-awaited first goal for Southampton, head coach Ivan Juric expressed his belief in the forward’s quality, highlighting his tough, fighter-like mentality and aerial prowess.
Onuachu finally broke his goal drought, ending a 718-day wait by netting his first goal for Southampton during their 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday.
The towering forward, who came on for Adam Armstrong in the 58th minute, rose above the Forest defenders in the box to expertly steer Mateus Fernandes' corner past Matz Sels, finding the back of the net in added time of the second half.
Juric praised Onuachu’s contribution, stating that the 30-year-old’s work ethic and determination will be valuable assets moving forward.
Juric hails Onuachu's quality, sparks optimism for more starts
In the aftermath of Onuachu’s his side's loss to the Tricky Trees, Juric expressed his satisfaction with the Super Eagles forward's performance, highlighting his qualities.
“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.
“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 said.
Juric’s praise for Onuachu has sparked renewed optimism among fans and pundits alike, with many hoping that this breakthrough moment could lead to more starting opportunities in upcoming fixtures.
Onuachu has featured in 14 matches for Southampton this season, with four of those being starting appearances, averaging 29 minutes per game.
In recent weeks, the forward has been linked with a potential move away from Southampton in January, with reported interest from Turkish clubs Trabzonspor and Beşiktaş.
