Fulham coach Marco Silva has challenged Samuel Chukwueze. The Nigerian winger needs to transform his recent impact into a regular starting role. Silva wants a consistent run in the club’s lineup.
Chukwueze earned the Royal Caribbean Legend of the Match award. He set up Fulham’s only goal in Saturday’s 1-0 win against Sunderland.
The 26-year-old winger received 39.29% of fan votes. This placed him comfortably ahead of Raúl Jiménez, who got 15.60%. Harry Wilson came third with 9.77%.
The Nigerian international entered the game in the 64th minute. He replaced Brazilian forward Kevin. Chukwueze made an immediate impact. Twenty minutes later, he delivered a teasing cross from the left. It found Jiménez, who finished calmly. This secured Fulham’s fourth league victory in 12 matches.
Earlier, another of his crosses created a chance for Jiménez. However, the striker’s header went wide.
Silva’s Praise and Challenge
Silva praised the summer signing. He stressed Chukwueze’s growing importance. “He had a huge impact,” Silva stated. “It was a great assist from him. We’re pleased for him. Now we need him to start games and keep the intensity throughout the 90 minutes.” Silva shared this on Fulham’s official website.
Chukwueze joined Fulham on a season-long loan. This move came from AC Milan during the summer transfer window. He linked up with fellow Nigerians Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey. The deal includes a non-mandatory option to buy. Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on the transfer. He suggested the total package could exceed €25 million.
Since arriving in England, Chukwueze has had a slow start. He has featured in only five matches. All appearances were as a substitute. He totals 108 minutes of action. Chukwueze has contributed two assists so far. His Sunderland performance sparked calls for a Premier League start. Silva insists the winger must continue to seize his chances.
Chukwueze’s Career Journey
Chukwueze is eager to prove himself. He had a challenging spell at AC Milan. His career began gaining attention with Nigeria’s U-17 team in 2015. He later moved to Spanish side Villarreal. In his La Liga debut season, he scored five goals and provided two assists. He spent five successful years with Villarreal. This included winning the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League.
His standout season was 2022-2023. He registered six goals and six assists. This earned him a €20 million transfer to Milan. In his first season, he scored one goal and provided three assists. His second season saw three goals and two assists. Despite these contributions, Chukwueze struggled for a regular spot. He could not secure consistent play in the Italian squad.
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