'Very good players' - PL latest debutant Offiah hails Nottingham Forest duo Awoniyi and Dennis  

2019 Golden Eaglets invitee Odeluga Offiah is the latest player to make his debut in the English Premier League after coming off the bench in the 88th minute of Brighton & Hove's 3-1 defeat suffered at the hands of Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night. 

Offiah waited for 424 days before being handed his top-flight bow by manager Roberto De Zerbi, the central defender was first called up for a Premier League game on February 26, 2022 against Aston Villa. 

Wearing the number 42 at the back of his jersey, Offiah replaced Brighton's goalscorer Facundo Buonanotte in the dying embers of the game.

It could have been an individual duel between Offiah and the physical Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi but the former Liverpool man was replaced eight minutes before the introduction of the young Seagulls defender. 

Another Nigeria international striker in Emmanuel Dennis was a non-playing substitute. 

When asked if he was given a heads-up he was going to make his Premier League debut against the Reds, Offiah told allnigeriasoccer.com : "I didn’t know. I was just trying to train well hoping I would get my chance and I was lucky I did.

"I only knew I was going to be given game time against Nottingham Forest when I was about to come on.

"I wasn't able to speak to any of the Nigerian players at Nottingham Forest, Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis after the game, but they are obviously very good players. Nigeria has a great future with Awoniyi."

On his targets for the remainder of the 2022-2023 season, Offiah replied : "My targets are to just keep training well and to get more minutes in the Premier League."

Offiah, who trained with the Nigeria squad before the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup, has now totaled four appearances for the first team of Brighton & Hove. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com