Turkish pundit rates Onuachu highly despite dip in form

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Turkish pundit Özden Ayvaz has described Trabzonspor striker Paul Onuachu as a “great goalscorer” despite admitting the Nigerian is currently out of form, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

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Ayvaz questioned whether there was a clause in Onuachu’s contract requiring him to play in every match after the striker was introduced from the bench during Trabzonspor’s 4-0 victory over Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Lig.

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“Onuachu is a great goalscorer, but the truth is he’s out of form… Is there a clause in his contract that says he has to play in every match?” Ayvaz said on the Sports Hour programme, via 61saat.

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Onuachu was left out of the starting line-up before coming on in the second half as Trabzonspor maintained control of the encounter, with Mohamed Salah scoring a hat-trick in the emphatic victory over the league leaders.

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Galatasaray, who were without injured Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, struggled to contain Trabzonspor and were reduced to 10 men after Lesley Ugochukwu was sent off following a VAR review.

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The Nigerian has struggled to reproduce the form he showed last season, scoring twice in eight appearances this campaign, with both goals coming in Trabzonspor’s 5-0 victory over Genclerbirligi.

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Despite his recent struggles, Ayvaz praised Onuachu’s finishing ability, enthusiasm and attitude on the pitch.

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“However, while saying this, we have to give him credit; he really is a great goalscorer. He came into the game with great enthusiasm and a smile. I really like Onuachu’s goalscoring ability and his demeanour on the field,” he added.

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Ayvaz also revealed that friends in Istanbul who are close to Fenerbahçe president Aziz Yıldırım have jokingly asked him to hand over the Nigerian striker.

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“We have close friends in Istanbul who are close to Aziz Yıldırım. They jokingly tell me: ‘Just give us Onuachu…’ They know the value of our players much better than we do,” he concluded.

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Onuachu, who was omitted from Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming matches against Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau, will hope to rediscover his scoring form when club football resumes after the international break.

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