The promotion of Watford back among the elite has increased the number of Nigerians in the English top-flight, and one of them has been backed to be an instant success
Andrew Randa, Media Officer for the Nigeria Under-20 team, is confident that new Watford signing Emmanuel Dennis has the talent needed to be a hit in the Premier League.
Watford recently announced the capture of the former Zorya Lugansk ace for a fee believed to be around €4 million.
It promises to be a new chapter for Dennis, who ended a four-year stay in Belgium on a quiet note. The 23-year-old scored 29 goals and provided 13 assists in 116 matches in all competitions for Club Brugge but struggled during a loan spell at Cologne between January and May.
Dennis is, however, joining a Watford side brimming with a few Nigerian stars, including Isaac Success, Tom Dele-Bashiru, and William Troost-Ekong. And Randa believes that the Nigerian international can hit the ground running if he settles in quickly.
“If he settles in and settles down, he could be a huge success at Watford,” the image-maker told Watford’s official website.
“If the coach sits him down and explains what he wants from him, and he gets around his Nigerian brothers Isaac, Tom Dele-Bashiru, and importantly William Troost-Ekong, then he could be a brilliant addition.
“He will add so much pace to the squad and will bring a different dimension to the team with his directness and his versatility. He’s also got Champions League experience.”
Dennis is not considered a Super Eagles regular despite his exploits in the UEFA Champions, boasting only three international caps in substitute appearances against Ukraine, Brazil, and Sierra Leone.
But Randa expects the exciting forward to force his way into head coach Gernot Rohr’s plans with consistently excellent performances for the Hornets.
He added: “Definitely. Gernot Rohr loves wingers as he likes to play an expansive 4-3-3 or a 3-5-2, and he needs direct players in those positions.
“Emmanuel falls into that category, and you can see him getting back in the squad if he does well in England.
“He’s got areas to work on and needs to regain his form, but I’ve known him since he was 15, and there is much more to come from him once he is settled,” he concluded.
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