‘He is a victim’ – Alfie House on Paul Onuachu’s Southampton forgettable switch

Onuachu’s dream to play in the Premier League became a reality in January as he had been vocal about wanting a big move away from KRC Genk which didn’t come even after his 33-goal league season in 2020/21.

The Nigerian got his wish after scoring 85 goals in 134 games for the Belgian outfit, making Southampton secure his services in January but is yet failed to hit the ground running, with his last start against Leeds United in February.

The deadline day signing comes into the Southampton squad with hopes of moving the club from the bottom of the Premier League table and out of the relegation place but he had played just 270 minutes in six games for the Saints.

The Nigeria international is now rooted to the bench by the new boss Reuben Selles, who prefers a technical striker and not the target man that sacked Nathan Jones signed in Onuachu in the wake of eight defeats in nine games.

“He is a victim of a change in managers,” says House.

“Nathan Jones absolutely wanted him in because Onuachu suited his direct system with a lot of long balls. But that trainer was fired a few weeks ago and replaced by his assistant, Ruben Selles.

“The Spaniard Selles has a different kind of football, in which there is no room for a target striker. He prefers to let his team play from the combination. In the front, he prefers smaller, technical footballers like Walcott.”