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,
Ruben Selles said: “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. 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.
Ruben Selles said: “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. 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.”
