Watford Head Coach Requests For Nigeria U23 International To Play In Professional Development League

Published: February 10, 2020

Watford U23 head coach Nigel Pearson requested for Tom Dele-Bashiru to play for the U23 team against Ipswich Town in a Professional Development League fixture on Monday afternoon.

According to the offficial website of the Hornets, the Nigeria U23 international was among five first team players that featured in today's game at the behest of Pearson, the others being Tom Cleverley, Ignacio Pussetto, João Pedro and Callum Whelan.

Dele-Bashiru swapped Manchester City for Watford last summer with the hope of getting first-team opportunities but has been unable to break into the first team of the Vicarage Stadium outfit.

The midfielder was linked with a loan departure from the club in the January transfer window which did not work out as planned.

The 20-year-old has found himself behind étienne Capoue, Abdoulaye Doucouré, Roberto Pereyra, Tom Cleverley and Nathaniel Chalobah in the pecking order of midfielders, limiting his appearances to only two cup matches.

Against Ipswich Town today, Dele-Bashiru provided the assist for Watford's second goal scored by Sam Dalby in the 57th minute.

He was in action for the entirety of the game while former Nigeria U20 invitee Jayden Bennetts, who recently made his professional debut, was introduced off the bench midway through the second half.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : watfordfc.com