Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss Ruben Selles claims goalless striker Onuachu can be ‘a big weapon’ #SAINTSFC

April 3, 2023
The Spaniard had commented ahead of visiting West Ham United that they had been working on how to suit Onuachu’s specific skill set in training. Selles admitted the six-foot seven-inch Nigerian international makes Saints “more direct” and sometimes “more defensive” because of his natural profile. Onuachu scored 19 goals in 16 games in Belgium’s Pro League before a deadline day January move to the Premier League – but he is yet to find the net for his new club. The 28 year old hit the woodwork with a header during the eventual 1-0 defeat to David Moyes’s Hammers, and Selles was asked about Onuachu’s contribution after the match. "We have been working on it in order to not be focused only on the long balls when we play Paul there,” Selles said.   “I think he was unlucky in the first two actions basically because the first two actions for him were after five minutes of defending set plays. “Then we bring him in, he was attracting defenders and we opened up more situations for crossing actions and that's where his chance came.” Selles added: “We are working on it. I think we managed better bringing a player like Paul into the pitch and we need to continue because it can be a big weapon for us if we continue." Onuachu cost over £15million to acquire as one of three attacking reinforcements added during the January window. Mislav Orsic, signed from Dinamo Zagreb, and Kamaldeen Sulemana, from French side Stade Rennes, both also still hunt their first goals in England.
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Ruben Selles reveals admiration of Paul Onuachu #SAINTSFC

April 2, 2023
The Nigerian international is still looking for his first goal in Saints colours following a January deadline day move from Belgian outfit Genk – where he scored 16 in 19 this season. Onuachu, 28, has started just three Premier League games with his new St Mary’s employers and has featured for just 30 minutes combined across the last four outings. The six-foot seven-inch tall signing is reported to have cost over £15million to acquire but Selles has moved to explain why the dynamic he offers is not always what the Spaniard is looking to produce. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s visit to West Ham, Selles explained: “Paul as you can see is a very special and very specific player. He did well when I took the team against Chelsea. “For the Leeds game, the whole team was not performing well. I think Paul has his chances to play, like any other player. “He is training well, he is a good boy and of course, if Che (Adams) is not fit enough, he has the chance to play, from the beginning or coming into the pitch during the game.” Selles added: "I think he is a player who changes the dynamic of the game. You saw against Manchester United, immediately when we put him in and then Erik (ten Hag) changed his defence and put Harry Maguire on because they knew we had a more direct approach. "We have to introduce him in a way that can be a benefit for us, not being more chaotic if he steps into the pitch. It is the team that needs to adapt a little bit more to what Paul Onuachu needs when we are playing." Selles is sweating on the fitness of Che Adams, who scored last time out in a 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur after he withdrew from Scotland’s international camp through injury and missed training this week. However, Selles had this week also claimed he wanted his Saints side to improve on set-pieces to face West Ham, who are particularly proficient in this area. Availability and suitability could come together to award Onuachu his first league start since February, at London Stadium this weekend. Sekou Mara also represents strong competition after some good cameos.  “Sometimes when Paul comes into the pitch the whole game changes to a more direct approach from us, and more defensive, but sometimes we need to adapt this,” Selles said. "Maybe from the very beginning against West Ham, he can attract two or three of the defenders, the centre-backs and sometimes we need to keep the structure. “In some of the recent games we have decided to keep the structure, but in some other moments, like the last ten minutes against Manchester United, we decided to have a more direct approach."
Nathan Jones
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton manager Nathan Jones reveals role of deadline day signing Paul Onuachu #SAINTSFC

February 4, 2023
NATHAN Jones insisted deadline day signing Paul Onuachu could offer Saints a real target man like “(Armando) Broja and (Graziano) Pelle”. The six-foot-seven-inch Nigerian striker was one of two additions made by Saints as the minutes ticked down on the final day of winter trading. Winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, 20, will also add to the attacking reinforcements – but it could be Onuachu who targets an immediate impact at the club. The 28-year-old has scored 64 goals over the last two-and-a-half seasons at Belgian outfit Genk, before completing a Premier League move worth up to £18.5million on Tuesday. Jones also revealed that he has not had any further conversations with Rasmus Ankersen and the Sport Republic directors, who have spent over £100million this season since acquiring the club. “We haven’t made knee-jerk decisions and reactions and suddenly gone berserk to keep us up,” Jones insisted, though, asked about his excitement over the deals. “Paul is a player who scores goals and is one of the top goalscorers in Europe. He gives us something we haven’t got, real size and aggression and something totally different to what this football club has had, along with maybe Broja and Pelle as the last real target men at the football club. “We’ve brought them in to supplement what we’ve got with Che, Arma and Sekou, and Kamaldeen was very sought after. He’s 20 years of age, really exciting with pace and power, can score goals and create and will only get better. “We’ve had a good window because it’s people that will help us now but will also safeguard the future of the football club.” Jones added: “We are excited because in every single window you’ll see this squad shape up so at no point will we go into games where we are fearful of set-pieces, or fearful of aggression or pace or anything. “We will get a rounded squad over time, I’ve built squads that are well-rounded, consistent, potent and are full of character and athleticism. In terms of my previous clubs, they had assets to sell. One of the best squads in the Championship, the most balanced with youth and experience but pace and power – the quickest team in the Championship. “Then, there are people that other teams want to buy – they’ve sold three in the window. Players like James Justin, Jack Stacey, Isaac Vassel all went for money. We want to build squads that one, win games. Two, are really valuable and three, they have real continuity. “It’s important we have players who are not here for one season and have to move on, players that have real continuity. At my previous club, there are players who got promoted from League Two who are now looking to get promoted from the Premier League. That shows good recruitment and that’s what we have to do here.” Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email. A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article on the Daily Echo. Your support means we can bring you the latest breaking news, exclusive Saints features and coverage - and much more. Digital subscribers get unrestricted access to all of our stories, our dedicated app including e-version of the newspaper, and an advertising-light website. If you want all the latest articles delivered straight to your inbox you can join the thousands of subscribers who are signed up to our newsletters. They include our popular daily morning news briefing, breaking news, crime and court, and Southampton FC bulletins - plus business, heritage and our what's on newsletters.