Marco Silva Urges Samuel Chukwueze to Build on Match-Winning Performance for Fulham
Fulham manager Marco Silva has called on Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze to turn his impactful cameo against Sunderland into a regular starting role for the club.
Chukwueze earned the Royal Caribbean Legend of the Match award after setting up Fulham’s only goal in Saturday’s 1-0 victory. The 26-year-old secured 39.29% of fan votes, well ahead of Raúl Jiménez (15.60%) and Harry Wilson (9.77%).
The Nigerian entered the game in the 64th minute, replacing Brazilian forward Kevin, and made an immediate impact. Within 20 minutes, he delivered a precise cross from the left wing that found Jiménez, who calmly finished to secure Fulham’s fourth league win in 12 matches. Earlier in the game, Chukwueze had also created another chance for Jiménez, though the striker’s header went wide.
Silva praised Chukwueze’s contribution and highlighted his growing importance to the team. “He had a huge impact. It was a great assist from him, and we’re pleased for him. Now we need him to start games and keep the intensity throughout the 90 minutes,” Silva said in an interview on Fulham’s official website.
Chukwueze joined Fulham on a season-long loan from AC Milan during the summer, linking up with fellow Nigerians Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey. The deal includes a non-mandatory option to buy, with reports suggesting the total package could exceed €25 million.
Since his arrival, Chukwueze has had a slow start, appearing in only five matches—all as a substitute—and clocking just 108 minutes. However, his performance against Sunderland has sparked calls for him to earn his first Premier League start, with Silva insisting the winger must continue seizing his opportunities.
Chukwueze is determined to bounce back after a challenging spell at AC Milan. He first gained attention with Nigeria’s U-17 team in 2015 before moving to Villarreal in Spain. In his debut La Liga season, he scored five goals and provided two assists, going on to spend five productive years with the Yellow Submarine, including winning the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League.
His standout season came in 2022-2023, when he recorded six goals and six assists, earning a €20 million move to AC Milan. Despite scoring and assisting in his first two seasons, Chukwueze struggled to secure a regular spot in Italy, making his early displays for Fulham a promising sign of what could be next for the talented winger.
