Landmark occasion : 19yo Super Eagles-eligible winger makes first Premier League start

Super Eagles-eligible winger Samuel Edozie has been handed his full Premier League debut by Southampton manager Nathan Jones in the ongoing game against Brighton & Hove. 

Jones made three changes from the Saints' 2-1 win over Lincoln City on Tuesday, December 20, with Ibrahima Diallo, Moussa Djenepo and Edozie coming in for Armel Bella-Kotchap, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Adam Armstrong.

An England U20 international of Nigerian descent, Edozie starts behind the main striker in what appears to be a 4-2-3-1 formation.

The 19-year-old appeared in eight Premier League matches, all of them off the bench, before the visit of Brighton & Hove to the St. Mary's Stadium. 

Former Southampton Head of Senior Recruitment now Chelsea's Co-Director of Recruitment and Talent, Joe Shields played a key role in the signing of Edozie as he knew him from their time at Manchester City, where he was the Chief Scout of their youth team. 

Edozie, who is considered one of the most talented teenagers in England, put pen to paper on a five-year contract with Southampton in September. 

His other starts as a professional came against Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup last month and Leicester City in the Community Shield back in August 2021.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : southamptonfc.com 

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