Southampton are preparing for their final game of the regular Championship season this week.
The Saints travel to Elland Road to face a Leeds United side who maintain hope of securing a second place finish with one game to go.
For Southampton, that hope was lost due to a dismal run that has seen them win just three of their last nine games and taste defeat in each of their last three.
The 5-0 battering they endured at the hands of Leicester City was followed up by a dismal showing at St Mary’s as Southampton lost 1-0 to Stoke City to confirm their season will end with the play-offs.
Manager Russell Martin rang the changes for that game, with the fringe players brought in largely failing to impress.
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As well as being defensively poor in recent weeks, Southampton have lacked an edge up, front scoring just once in their last three games.
What doesn’t help matters when goals are hard to come by at St Mary’s is the fact that one of their players away on loan scored a hat-trick at the weekend.
Paul Onuachu struggled for game time after Southampton arrival
Southampton signed Paul Onuachu on transfer deadline day in January 2023 in a bid to save a season that ultimately ended in relegation.
The striker was part of a busy final day of the window, signing for £18 million after the Saints had already broken their club record transfer fee to bring in Kamaldeen Sulemana.
Given the striker was 28 at the time and his 6 foot 8 frame, this was a signing that went against Southampton’s recruitment model of buying young and technically gifted players.
This just highlights the desperation from the club and the fact they brought in a target man to help with Nathan Jones’ direct style of play and then sacked the Welsh manager weeks later shows the lack of planning from the club.
Despite his January arrival, Onuachu barely featured after Jones’ departure and did not score a single goal as Southampton finished bottom of the Premier League.
Many felt the striker was not given a fair chance after joining, particularly as Jones’ replacement, Ruben Selles, did not play to his strengths.
One thing was clear, though, when Russell Martin was appointed to implement his possession-based brand of football, Onuachu did not have a future at the club.
The Nigerian joined Turkish side Trabzonspor on loan and has had a decent season, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 18 league games according to Transfermarkt.
He also got a late call-up to join the Nigeria squad at the African Cup of Nations in January where he linked up with Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo.
Onuachu scores 18 minute hat-trick
Those who felt Onuachu deserved more of a chance at Southampton may now be feeling vindicated, as the marksman scored an 18 minute hat-trick on Sunday as Trabzonspor beat Gaziantep 4-2.
The win cemented the Turkish side’s third-place position in the league, which would mean they qualify for the early rounds of the Europa League.
The former Genk man’s first goal came on 50 minutes with his side 2-0 down, as he fired a powerful side-foot volley towards goal; although the goalkeeper should perhaps have done better.
Minutes later he was unfortunate as he saw his deft flick well saved by the Gaziantep stopper.
Onuachu then showed his physical prowess as he backed into a defender before laying off for his teammate to score the second.
A minute after providing the assist, Onuachu was again on the scoresheet as he showed the sort of composure only a striker in form can display, rounding the goalkeeper before slotting home.
In the 68th-minute, just 18 minutes after his first, the on loan attacker completed his hat-trick.
Again, the giant striker used his strength to outmuscle the defender, before chesting down and firing into the top corner with his weaker left-foot.
With any meaningful return to St Mary’s unlikely, perhaps Southampton will just be happy that Onuachu’s goals will be driving up his price for a summer sale.