Super Eagles striker Dennis ignores Nigerian legends Okocha, Kanu in his top three favourite Premier League stars

The new Watford signing has gone for former Chelsea and Manchester United heroes as the players he loved to watch the most in the world’s most glamorous league

Nigerian forward Emmanuel Dennis has snubbed Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, and several other legendary compatriots who lighted up the Premier League at the peak of their careers.

Instead, the Watford star has named Chelsea’s Ivorian icon Didier Drogba, Manchester United’s hero Wayne Rooney and Crystal Palace forward Wilfred Zaha as the players he admires most in the world’s glamorous striker.

Gunners hero Kanu enjoyed a trophy-laden career at Arsenal and Portsmouth, winning two Premier League titles and three FA Cups. 

Okocha narrowly missed out on winning any title in England. However, the former Bolton Wanderers playmaker is still spoken of in high esteem for his brilliant technique and skills on the ball.

Aiyegbeni remains Nigeria’s most prolific striker In the English game following his exploits for Portsmouth, Everton, Middlesbrough, and Blackburn Rovers.

But Dennis, in picking his present and past favourite EPL stars, named none of them going for the trio of Drogba, Zaha, and Rooney.

Asked by Watford TV to name his favourite players in the Premier League, Dennis said: “Didier [Drogba] and Wilfried [Zaha] are my favourite Premier League players, I loved watching Drogba play, I love to watch Zaha, and I also loved to see Wayne [Rooney], scoring those crazy goals.”

On the overall players he looks out for, Dennis said: “Neymar, Cristiano [Ronaldo], and Messi there is a lot of players you can watch and learn from them; I also love Sergio [Ramos].

“I am a fan of the guy [Ramos], very crazy defender with a lot of experience, strong on everything he does but I know like against this guy, he is old now, and I am faster than him, so I will use my speed and also use my experience to beat him.”

Dennis, 25, only recently completed a move to Watford from Belgian champions Club Brugge on a five-year deal.