Youngest Nigerian To Play In Premier League: People Thought I'm Too Young & Weak
Published: February 27, 2018
Young Nigerian striker Joel Asoro is having a banner season at Sunderland so much so that he has been linked with a return to a Premier League club in the summer.
The 18-year-old broke into the first team of the Black Cats in 2018, having featured in all of their last nine matches in the Championship and scoring two goals against Hull City and Middlesbrough.
''When I came in people maybe looked at me and thought, he’s too little, too weak, too young, but you just can’t give up, keep working and keep believing,'' Asoro was quoted as saying by Sunderland Echo.
''It has taken me a year, you can get angry when you’re not getting the minutes, but you’ve just got to keep going.
''There’s a bit of competition up front, but you have to be ready, can you bring some energy from the bench?
''I’m playing in two positions, but at the end of the day I’ve got to do the same things.
''I was expecting at the start of the season to get a few minutes, but the way things have gone, I’ve been lucky.''
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Asoro, who is on the radar of the Nigerian Federation, is the youngest player of Nigerian descent to debut in the English Premier League, aged 17 years and 117 days, when he came on in the 81st minute of Sunderland's 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough on August 21, 2016.
Igho Kingsley
Photo Credit : safc.com
The 18-year-old broke into the first team of the Black Cats in 2018, having featured in all of their last nine matches in the Championship and scoring two goals against Hull City and Middlesbrough.
''When I came in people maybe looked at me and thought, he’s too little, too weak, too young, but you just can’t give up, keep working and keep believing,'' Asoro was quoted as saying by Sunderland Echo.
''It has taken me a year, you can get angry when you’re not getting the minutes, but you’ve just got to keep going.
''There’s a bit of competition up front, but you have to be ready, can you bring some energy from the bench?
''I’m playing in two positions, but at the end of the day I’ve got to do the same things.
''I was expecting at the start of the season to get a few minutes, but the way things have gone, I’ve been lucky.''
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Asoro, who is on the radar of the Nigerian Federation, is the youngest player of Nigerian descent to debut in the English Premier League, aged 17 years and 117 days, when he came on in the 81st minute of Sunderland's 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough on August 21, 2016.
Igho Kingsley
Photo Credit : safc.com
Latest News
- Super Falcons and Brighton GK Nnadozie marks WSL debut with impressive clean sheet
- Former African POTY hails Simon for his pace but urges better decision-making in attack
- 'The quality's there' – Former Man City goalkeeper backs Iheanacho to succeed at Celtic
- Confirmed Nigeria team news: Osimhen ruled out of blockbuster WCQ v Bafana Bafana
- 'I know' – Rwanda coach claims some Nigerians are working against Eric Chelle
- 'Amazing game' – Troost-Ekong names one Super Eagles player who impressed him in win v Rwanda
- Osimhen faces fitness race ahead of Bafana Bafana showdown as Chelle reveals nature of injury
- Fredrick starting ahead of Troost-Ekong: Eric Chelle refuses to justify gamble that paid off
- Super Eagles player ratings: Arokodare delivers, Fredrick comes of age, Lookman fires blanks, Bassey solid
- 2026 WCQ: Dessers becomes cap-tied to Nigeria and four other observations from win v Wasps


News Categories
- African Players
- Australia/ Asia
- Belgian Championship
- Bundesliga
- Danish Football
- English Premier League
- Nigeria National Teams
- Casinos not on Gamstop
- Nigeria Premier League
- Vsbet
- F168
- F168
- MB88
- keo nha cai
- okvip
- Norwegian Football
- Football Betting
- Polish Football
- VT88
- VT88
- sunwin
- sunwin
- Russian Championship
- Serie A
- Spanish Liga
- Swedish Championship
- Transfer
- Turkish Championship
- 1Win
- Ukrainian Football
- Uncategorized
- Women's Football
- SHBET
- F168
- F168
- F168
- hi88