Manager explains why Paul Onuachu was sparring used at Southampton
Onuachu, who was Genk's top scorer this season with 16 goals prior to his move to join Saints, has made 11 appearances for Southampton, but only four of those have been as starts
Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu has made just four starts since joining Southampton in the January transfer window, with the Nigerian striker finding his opportunities limited under Ruben Selles.
The 6ft 7ins striker joined Saints at the end of the January transfer window as Southampton splashed the cash to sign him and Ghanaian international Kamaldeen Sulemana to try and boost their hopes of avoiding relegation.
Saints spent around £40million combined to recruit Onuachu from Belgian side Genk and Sulemana from French outfit Rennes, although neither player has scored a goal since arriving in England, with Southampton's relegation from the Premier League confirmed earlier this month.
Onuachu, who was Genk's top scorer this season with 16 goals prior to his move to join Saints, has made 11 appearances for Southampton, but only four of those have been as starts, with the Nigerian international finding his opportunities limited.
Indeed, he has not even made it onto the pitch, or into the matchday squad on some occasions since Selles took charge in February, replacing Nathan Jones after Saints had parted company with the Welshman.
And Selles has said that Onuachu has perhaps suffered as a result of the changes, with the Spaniard outlining his view on the 28-year-old's lack of game time.
"I think sometimes it’s difficult to come straight to the Premier League and it’s hard to score goals especially in that position. There are some key positions where you need to be more exposed than the others and that’s the number nine position," Selles said.
"Probably the change in manager didn’t benefit him, we went some places that we didn’t go before. That’s mainly it. Usually when you get a player from the Belgian league or the French league, unless the team is very structured then they need time to adapt. And that’s what happened. He probably has a different opinion but that’s my opinion."
Meanwhile, Selles said that he would have "absolutely" approached the January transfer window differently had he been in charge of Southampton for it, with the Spaniard picking up the pieces in February and inheriting a bloated squad of 30 senior players after two busy windows for Saints.
However, the Spaniard chose not to elaborate on what he would have done differently, suggesting that was now irrelevant with Southampton's fate already sealed
