“He is a mile off” — Barnsley coach laments Kelechi Nwakali’s fitness

By Monsurah Olatunji 

Barnsley head coach Darrell Clarke has expressed concerns about Kelechi Nwakali’s fitness.

The former U17 World Cup Golden Ball winner is finding it difficult to adjust to life with the English League One side.

The Super Eagles star has yet to make an appearance for the club since his summer move from Chaves where he scored one goal and registered four assists last season.

Nwakali has made four senior appearances for the Nigerian men’s national team and left his country in 2016 to join Premier League side Arsenal.

Following numerous loan spells, the midfielder left the Gunners in 2019, in an attempt to revive his career by signing for Spanish sides SD Huesca and then Ponferradina before joining Portuguese lower leagues, Chaves last year.

The 26-year-old Nigerian midfielder has made several lower-level moves in recent years but has yet to find the rhythm.

Speaking on the reason for his lack of game time, Barnsley coach Clarke has revealed that Nwakali has yet to reach the levels he expects.

“Kelechi is a mile off. He needs to do what I’ve told him to do,” he said via a post on Oluwashina Okeleji’s X. 

“He needs to get fitter, more high-speed distance running. But he’s adapting to the English game again. We will keep working with him.”