How Nigerian is emerging as Cottagers’ best forward ahead of London derby with Crystal Palace
Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 15.
Player analysis: Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham)
After scoring two goals and assisting twice across his last three Premier League appearances, Fulham supporters are starting to get very excited about Samuel Chukwueze.
As we build up to Sunday’s encounter with London rivals Crystal Palace, Adrian Clarke tells us more about their on-loan winger.
What is Chukwueze’s back story?
Marco Silva signed the 26-year-old Nigeria international on season-long loan from AC Milan during the summer transfer window, in a deal that will see him join on a permanent basis for £28million should Fulham pursue that option.
The winger arrived in west London with stacks of big-match experience, scoring four goals in the UEFA Champions League with Milan (two) and his first club Villarreal (two).
In April 2022 he netted a vital equaliser at Bayern Munich, a goal which helped send the LaLiga side into the semi-finals.
The left-footed wide man, who can play on both flanks, scored 37 goals in 205 appearances for Villarreal, a club he first joined as an 18-year-old.
With 51 caps for his country, including seven goals, Chukwueze is a player of good pedigree, so it should be no surprise to see him shining at Craven Cottage.
Where does he perform best?
He may have spent most of this campaign so far on the bench, making just one Premier League start, but Chukwueze offers the Fulham head coach various tactical options.
For example, he is equally comfortable raiding down the left or right wing.
Of late it is down the left where he has made a particularly strong impression, shining as a second-half substitute in the recent 1-0 win at home to Sunderland.
This fabulous curling cross for Raul Jimenez helped to decide the game.
Watch: Chukwueze’s assist for Jimenez v Sunderland
He started Fulham’s next match on the same wing, performing very well in a 2-1 success at Tottenham Hotspur.
Darting in off the left, dancing past a couple of defenders, Chukwueze’s clever square pass for Kenny Tete helped the Cottagers open the scoring after just four minutes.
Watch: Chukwueze’s assist for Tete v Spurs
Quick, direct and skilful, the Nigerian can play on either wing or up front, and these are the roles he has been used in so far this season.
Chukwueze’s positions and minutes played, 25/26
What’s his greatest strength?
Having watched Chukwueze in action, Sunday’s opponents Crystal Palace will be well aware of the winger’s dribbling ability.
Oliver Glasner’s two wing-backs, and the wide central defenders, must therefore try to get tight to the on-loan Fulham star, whose trickery, pace and balance are devilishly difficult to contain once he gathers momentum.
There is a pleasing amount of productivity at the end of those runs too.
No one in the Premier League can compete with the number of chances and assists he is creating from ball carries.
PL players chances created and assists from ball carries, 25/26*
Player
Chances created
Player
Assists
Chukwueze
2.36
Chukwueze
0.79
Hudson-Odoi
1.54
Gittens
0.45
Hutchinson
1.54
Garnacho
0.43
Garnacho
1.50
Hutchinson
0.31
Doku
1.48
Gruda
0.30
*Per 90 minutes. Scroll across on mobile to see the full table
In just 229 minutes of Premier League action, Chukwueze has been ultra-positive in his decision-making.
Carrying the ball at speed, always looking to beat defenders, he is a massive threat wherever he pops up on the pitch.
Surely more starts will follow
Chukwueze’s excellent brace in an intoxicating 5-4 loss at home to Manchester City on Tuesday means it will be very hard for Marco Silva not to start him against Crystal Palace.
His powerful left foot is a weapon the west Londoners will now feel they can utilise on a more consistent basis, especially now that he has acclimatised to English football.
Watch: Chukwueze’s brace v Man City
These two ferocious strikes came just days after he also rattled the woodwork from outside the box against Spurs.
When Silva and his coaching staff assess Chukwueze’s data they are bound to be impressed.
In those 229 minutes – the equivalent of two and half full games – he has racked up 10 shots, 10 key passes and 10 completed dribbles.
His per 90 numbers are off-the-chart good, compared to his Fulham team-mates.
Fulham players chances created in open play and shots, 25/26*
Player
Chances created
Player
Shots
Chukwueze
3.93
Chukwueze
3.93
Iwobi
1.38
Smith Rowe
3.20
Kevin
1.13
Jimenez
2.68
*Per 90 minutes
A blossoming partnership
When he steps infield, Chukwueze also has good awareness and quality in tight areas.
Not just a winger who wants to trick his way past defenders, the AC Milan loanee can also pick a pass at the right moment.
His rapport with left-back Ryan Sessegnon has also really caught the eye.
He set up Sessegnon for a goal away to Bournemouth with this eye-of-the-needle through-ball.
Watch: Chukwueze’s assist for Sessegnon v Bournemouth
And in that exceptional cameo against Sunderland, he also slipped Sessegnon in for a close-range shot from a tight angle.
Palace will need to watch out for this left-sided pair working together at speed and in tandem at Craven Cottage.
AFCON awaits
Chukwueze will be a key man for the Super Eagles at African Cup of Nations, which begins on 21 December in Morocco.
Nigeria begin the tournament with a match against Tanzania on 23 December, so this will be his last home fixture before departing for the tournament alongside team-mates Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey.
All three should be available for the away match against Burnley in Matchweek 16 prior to their departure.
So, this feels like an ideal time for Silva to make best use of his exciting and talented wide man.
With five direct-goal involvements to his name, the most of any Fulham player, he has surely earned the trust of his head coach ahead of this weekend.
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