Southampton interim boss Simon Rusk has confirmed that Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu is fit and available for selection ahead of the club’s Premier League fixture against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. The 30 year old missed last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat to Fulham due to injury but returned to full training during the week.
Speaking to the club’s official media, Rusk stated, “We’re in good health. Paul’s been training the last couple of days, he’s back in the mix, so that’s good news. Across the board we’ve had good training numbers this week, so we’ve got pretty much a clean bill of health.”
Onuachu has scored four goals in 23 league appearances this season for the Saints, who, like Leicester, have already been relegated to the Sky Bet Championship. The former Genk forward is widely expected to leave St Mary’s at the end of the season, with several clubs reportedly monitoring his situation.
Editorial
Paul Onuachu’s return to fitness is a small ray of light in what has been a dim campaign for Southampton. The towering Nigerian forward may not have lit up the Premier League this season, but his presence remains a potential game-changer especially for a club desperately in need of attacking solutions.
Onuachu’s time at Southampton has been mixed. After a prolific spell in Belgium, expectations were understandably high. But adapting to the pace and physical demands of English football isn’t easy, especially in a struggling side. While four goals in 23 matches won’t turn heads, context matters: the team around him hasn’t functioned well, and confidence has been in short supply.
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With relegation confirmed, Saturday’s fixture against Leicester is less about survival and more about auditioning for the future. For Onuachu, it’s a chance to remind potential suitors that he’s still a threat in the box and worth the investment. Whether his next chapter is in the Championship or elsewhere, he needs to close this chapter with purpose.
For Nigeria, too, his form matters. With AFCON qualifiers and World Cup preparations on the horizon, the Super Eagles need their strikers sharp and battle-ready. Let’s hope Onuachu uses this return as a springboard—not just for Southampton’s farewell, but for his career’s next peak.
Did You Know?
- Paul Onuachu won the 2020/21 Belgian Pro League Golden Boot with 33 goals for Genk making him the league’s top scorer.
- At 2.01 metres (6ft 7in), Onuachu is one of the tallest outfield players currently active in Europe’s top leagues.
- He made his Super Eagles debut in 2019 and scored his first international goal just ten seconds into a match against Egypt.
- Onuachu was named Belgian Pro League Footballer of the Year in 2021, a rare feat for an African striker.
- Southampton paid around £18 million to sign him in January 2023, making him one of the club’s most expensive transfers.
