First squad involvement in 419 days for Onuachu as Southampton face Bournemouth

Southampton boss Russell Martin has announced his starting lineup for Monday evening's Premier League clash against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

The big news from a Nigerian perspective is that Super Eagles forward Paul Onuachu is a shock inclusion in the gameday twenty.

He is joined on the bench by fellow Nigeria international Joe Aribo, while Chelsea loanee Lesley Ugochukwu is reinstated into the starting lineup after playing as a substitute against Ipswich Town.

You have to go back to August 8, 2023 to find the last time Onuachu was named in a Southampton matchday squad, against Gillingham in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

Four hundred and nineteen days have passed since Onuachu last wore the Southampton jersey in a competitive match. 

In search of regular game time, the FC Ebedei product was loaned out to Trabzonspor for the 2023-2024 season, where he rediscovered his mojo, registering 17 goals in twenty five appearances for the Turkish club.

Trabzonspor attempted to re-sign Onuachu in the summer transfer window but were priced out of a move, with Southampton valuing their number 32 at fifteen million euros. 

Onuachu has made twelve appearances for Southampton since his arrival from Racing Genk in January 2023.

Against the Cherries, Southampton are searching for their first win since their return to the Premier League.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: southamptonfc.com 

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