“Under-appreciated” – Alex Iwobi joins Manchester United’s Amad Diallo in Troy Deeney’s BBC Team of the Week

Super Eagles and Fulham midfielder, Alex Chuka Iwobi, was included in Troy Deeney’s BBC Matchday 21 Team of the Week after a brilliant performance in his side’s midweek 3-2 loss to West Ham United, Soccernet.ng reports.

The former Arsenal man whipped in two crosses on either side of West Ham‘s goals, to reduce the deficit for Marco Silva’s side, and was aided by the dummy run of Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson. After the game, Iwobi admitted he had no intention of scoring from those crosses.

Deeney, who was famously known as a Watford striker before he hung his boots, took up punditry with BBC and is now tasked with picking the BBC Team of the Week.

In goal, the former Watford striker opted for Nottingham Forests’ Matz Sels who made crucial saves in his side’s 1-1 draw against Liverpool at the City Ground. The Belgian goalkeeper made five stunning saves to keep Nuno Espirito Santo’s men in the title race.

Nottingham Forest FC v Liverpool FC – Premier League Matz Sels, Nottingham Forest goalkeeper, saves the ball from Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool at the City Ground in Nottingham, England, on January 14, 2025. Nottingham Nottinghamshire United Kingdom PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xMIxNewsx originalFilename:fletcher-nottingh250114_npbuF.jpg.[Photo Credit/ Imago].

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Chelsea’s Reece James takes the right-back spot after coming off the bench to score a late free-kick in his side’s 2-2 draw against Bournemouth.

The pairing in central defence was Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa. The pair kept clean sheets in their side’s respective wins during midweek.

Fulham’s highly-rated full-back, Antonee Robinson, was Deeney’s left-back pick after picking up two assists in his side’s loss to West Ham. The USMNT defender now has nine assists in the league this season, just behind Bukayo Saka and Mohammed Salah.

London, England, 14th January 2025. GOAL 2-2 Chelsea defender Reece James 24 scores during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture credit should read: Ian Stephen / Sportimage EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. SPI_0089_IS_Chelsea_Bournemouth SPI-3595-0089. [Photo Credit/ Imago].
Deeney opted for a midfield trio. West Ham United’s Carlos Soler found the back of the net against Fulham, and Sandro Tonali made Newcastle United tick in their 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Fulham’s Alex Iwobi completes the midfield. The Nigerian put in a brilliant shift for the Cottagers, scoring a brace, and Deeney claimed the Super Eagles talisman is one of the most underrated players in the English Premier League.

“He got another couple of goals and has probably been Fulham’s best player throughout. He can play numerous positions but he has just been really, really good. He’s one of those people that we disrespect and underappreciate but if he was in your team, you would love him to death. He’s had a really good week,” the former Watford striker included in his column.

London, England, January 14 2025: Alex Iwobi 17 Fulham, Edson Alvarez 19 West Ham and Aaron Wan-Bissaka 29 West Ham in action during the Premier League game between West Ham and Fulham at London Stadium in London, England. Pedro Porru/SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xPedroxPorru/SPPx spp-en-PePo-4F8A9942_DxO. [Photo Credit/ Imago].
In attack, Alexander Isak leads the line after scoring a brace in Newcastle’s 3-0 win over Wolves. The former Borussia Dortmund man has now scored in eight consecutive Premier League games and is just three short of Jamie Vardy’s record of scoring in eleven straight English top-flight games.

“We may as well just keep him in for the next six weeks. Mr Isak, is the best striker on the planet currently. He does everything – scores two goals, creates an assist and then goes and sits down after 70 minutes because it is job done.

“We can keep talking about how good he is – he’s an obvious replacement for others, but while he’s at a flying Newcastle team why would he leave? They may end up – don’t say it too loud – creating a little title push,” Deeney wrote about the former Real Sociedad forward.

15th January 2025 St James Park, Newcastle, England Premier League Football, Newcastle United versus Wolverhampton Wanderers Alexander Isak celebrates after he scored Newcastles’ first goal for 1-0 in the 34th minute PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK ActionPlus12738272 CraigxCowan. [Photo Credit/ Imago].
On the left flank, Manchester City’s Phil Foden sealed his spot. His double against Brentford earned Pep Guardiola’s side a point.

On the right flank, Manchester United’s Amad Diallo nicks the spot without a doubt. The Ivorian scored a hat-trick against Southampton at Old Trafford last night to seal the Red Devil’s first win since the Manchester Derby in December.

Old Trafford MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 16: Amad Diallo of Manchester Utd. celebrates his goal with teammate Joshua Zirkzee during the Premier League 2024/25 Matchweek 21 match between Manchester United, ManU FC and Southampton FC at Old Trafford, on January 16, 2025 in Manchester, England. Will Palmer / SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xWillxPalmerx/xSPPx spp-en-WiPa-RC5_WIL_Manchester_Southampton_16Jan2025_EN122. [Photo Credit/ Imago].

“I didn’t even know he was playing in the first 70 minutes against Southampton but to get a hat-trick in 12 minutes, you have to put him in. He turned Manchester United’s team and fortunes on its head. He obviously got a nice big contract, he seems like the bright spark of this season so far but he has still got loads of learning to do and he has still got loads to improve on. He’ll only get better,” Deeney said about the young winger.

Amad became the first-ever African to score a hat-trick in Manchester United’s red colours. The 22-year-old has now scored six goals and provided six assists in 14 starts for Ruben Amorim’s side.

 

Adefolahan Guerreiro

Adefolahan is a multilingual journalist and writer at Soccernet Nigeria. With a track record of involvement in College sports, Adefolahan is focused on crafting engaging football content and utilising his language skills and extensive sports knowledge to enhance content accessibility for a global audience. He has interviewed Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.

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