Turkish pundit rates Onuachu highly despite dip in form

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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

“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.

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.

“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.

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.