Carabao Cup: Onuachu makes season debut for Southampton in loss to Gillingham

Paul Onuachu made his first appearance of the season for Southampton in their 3-1 loss to Gillingham in the first round of the English Football League Cup on Tuesday evening.

The lanky striker came on for Ché Adams in the 69th minute as the Saints attempted to get back into the game.

Onuachu has been linked with a move away from St Mary's all summer following his struggles in the second half of last season after joining from Racing Genk. 

He was omitted from the Saints' squad that defeated Sheffield Wednesday on the first matchday of the English Championship.

It remains to be seen whether the Nigerian International will still leave Southampton before the end of the transfer window.

He wasn't the only player of Nigerian descent that featured for Hampshire based-club as Joe Aribo also came on as a second-half substitute while Samuel Edozie was an unused substitute

It was a night to forget for Russell Martin's side who had no Nigerian player in the starting XI as the three named in the matchday squad all started the game from the bench while Nathan Tella didn't make the squad.

Ashley Nadesan gave Gillingham the lead in the 12th minute before a brace from Robbie McKenzie gave the League 2 side a 3-goal deal.

The Saints pulled one back through Carlos Alcaraz with a minute left on the clock. 

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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