'Players like Joao Felix also needed time at Chelsea' - Selles demands patience with Onuachu

Speaking to the national press in England in his pre-match press conference before the Premier League match against Leicester City, Southampton manager Ruben Selles has urged Saints supporters to be patient with one of their deadline day signings in the January transfer window, Paul Onuachu. 

Onuachu joined Southampton on a three-and-a-half-year deal for a transfer fee of 18 million euros and if bonuses are included, the fee could rise to 21 million euros.

The Nigeria international scored goals for fun during his time with Racing Genk in Belgium, but has yet to hit the ground running since his switch to the St Mary's Stadium, with zero goals in four Premier League appearances. 

Asked how he can get Onuachu and Kamaldeen Sulemana to be more effective in the opposition box, Selles was quoted as saying by HampshireLive : "Yeah, but again, we need to think that football is always a process. We need to think about Paul Onuachu and Kamaldeen [Sulemana] as two players who are new in the Premier League and as soon as they arrive we throw them into the starting XI against Wolves and Chelsea.

"The Premier League is the best competition in the world so sometimes it takes time. It's not easy to arrive and make an impact."

Selles acknowledged that the lanky Nigerian center forward needs time to adapt to the demands of Premier League football and to buttress his point he cited Chelsea's marquee signing in January, Joao Felix, who has not hit the heights expected of him, having netted just once in five matches despite his pedigree as a world-class player. 

Looking at Onuachu's stats alone, he has struggled to make an impact in terms of getting on the score sheet, but Selles has defended him, saying he expects the number 12 to come good once he's provided with the right service. 

"Players like Joao Felix also needed time at Chelsea and they are players that play many Champions League matches and international matches.

"So sometimes we need to be careful as a club with how we analyse those things. I think Paul [Onuachu] will find his game, hopefully he'll find it sooner.

"We need to give him the tools, the same with Kamaldeen. But it's not that easy to come from any other league to the Premier League and perform from minute one, especially in the situation that we are in."

Onuachu mustered 164 career goals in 328 appearances combined for previous clubs FC Midtjylland, Racing Genk and Vejle Boldklub.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : southamptonfc.com 

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