'He was brilliant' - Onuachu sings the praises of Southampton debutant Welington

Southampton's latest victory over Ipswich Town has been hailed as a crucial win in their relegation battle, and one player who caught the eye was debutant Welington Santos. 

The Brazilian full-back put in an impressive performance, and his teammate Paul Onuachu was quick to praise his efforts.

Onuachu, who scored the winning goal in the 2-1 victory, was impressed by Welington's energy and work rate. 

The Super Eagles striker acknowledged that Welington's debut was a "brilliant" one, and he was delighted to see him make such a positive impact on the game.

Welington's performance was all the more impressive given that it was his first senior appearance since mid-October.

The 23-year-old defender was aggressive in the tackle, winning 10 of his 13 ground duels and drawing two fouls as he kept Ipswich's tricky winger Omari Hutchinson quiet.

Onuachu's goal was the decisive moment in the match, and it capped off a fine performance from the Nigerian striker.

However, he was quick to deflect attention away from himself and onto his teammate Welington.

"He was brilliant, to be honest," Onuachu told the Daily Echo. "He gave a lot of energy, a lot of running. You could see at the end, it's the first Premier League game. 

"The tempo is high. Everybody could feel it at the end, he was a little bit tired, but he really gave a lot."

"And then he ran front and back. He's a good player. I think the coach just has to utilise everybody with the way we train," Onuachu added.

Onuachu's aerial dominance was also a key factor in Southampton's victory, with the Nigerian striker winning an impressive 16 aerial duels. 

His ability to win headers and hold up the ball will be crucial in the coming weeks, and he will be hoping to continue his impressive form.

Ejim Kaycee

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