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It’s fair to say it’s been a dreadful debut campaign at Southampton for Moi Elyounoussi, but if he does get a rare start against West Ham United on Saturday, then he needs to live up to his comments when he signed for the club last summer.
On the chalkboard
There was a lot of excitement among the St Mary’s faithful when the Norway international arrived last June, considering his goals and assists record for Basel and the fact that he had impressed in the Champions League for the Swiss outfit.
The reported £16m fee, as well as the fact he was seen as Dusan Tadic’s replacement, instantly put some expectation on his shoulders, but he seemed confident that he would deliver give what he told southamptonfc.com at the time.
He said: “I’m a hard worker on the pitch and I like to create chances, either for me or to play others through. That’s where I’m at my best, when I can use my creativity, so I think the philosophy of the club will suit me very well.”
That creativity has not been forthcoming due to a lack of minutes on the pitch for the 24-year-old – he has only played 981 minutes in all competitions this term.
Rare chance at West Ham
Having largely failed to win over Mark Hughes, it has been a similar story for Elyounoussi under the leadership of Ralph Hasenhuttl as well.
He hasn’t played a single Premier League minute since February and hasn’t made the matchday squad for the previous five fixtures.
However the Austrian manager has hinted that some fringe players will get a chance at the London Stadium, as per southamptonfc.com.
Elyounoussi will surely be one of those, and he needs to take his chance.
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No goals and no assists this season tells you all you need to know about how things have gone for the Norwegian, but if he is named on the team-sheet on Saturday then he must go out and prove he is that creative player he says he is.
If he doesn’t, his time at St Mary’s career may be over before it’s even begun.