'Scored goals in Belgium, in Turkey same thing' - Southampton coach confident Onuachu will end goal drought

New Southampton manager Ivan Juric is confident that Paul Onuachu will end his goal drought in the upcoming matches, following his performance during the 1-0 defeat to West Ham United at St Mary’s Stadium on Boxing Day.

The Nigeria national teamer has gone twenty-two matches across all competitions without finding the back of the net since landing at Southampton in January 2023.

Onuachu arrived in English football with a huge reputation as a proven goalscorer but has failed to deliver the goods in a Southampton shirt. 

The FC Ebedei product tallied 192 goal involvements (159 goals, 33 assists) for FC Midtjylland and Racing Genk, and scored 17 goals in 25 appearances during his loan stint at Trabzonspor last season.

Against the Hammers on Thursday, he had a couple of opportunities to break his goal drought, but he couldn’t capitalize on them, as his headers either went wide or were saved by the goalkeeper.

Southampton paid the price for failing to take their chances as Jarrod Bowen put the ball into the net to give the visitors the lead against the run of play just before the hour mark. 

Speaking post-match, Juric was quoted as saying by Daily Echo: "Onuachu scored goals in Belgium every year, 20 goals. In Turkey, it's the same thing. It's not the same thing playing in Turkey and Belgium compared to England.

"But it's not one year that he scored 20 goals. I believe that he can do it. What I saw in these training sessions, he has his own characteristics.

"Long ball, keep the ball, the head is strong. It's normal that he's not the fastest player in the world, but in some games, I think he can do it well."

Onuachu risks being dropped from the starting lineup, as Juric has hinted that it might be better to play with Cameron Archer or another striker up front in upcoming games.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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