Augsburg boss Jess Thorup was effusive in his praise for Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka following his standout performance in Augsburg's 3-1 home victory over St. Pauli on Sunday.
Onyeka made his Bundesliga debut for the DFB Pokal semi-finalists following a season-long loan from Premier League side Brentford, where he had experienced limited game time.
The 26-year-old was entrusted with a starting role by Thorup, and he rewarded the manager’s confidence with an impressive performance, remaining a key presence on the pitch until he was substituted for Arne Maier in the 83rd minute.
The Nigeria international made a decisive impact by setting up Phillip Tietz to score Augsburg's second goal of the game in the 67th minute.
Thorup highlights Frank Onyeka's instant impact and team contribution
In the aftermath of the game, Thorup praised Frank Onyeka for his role in Augsburg's victory, highlighting the midfielder's significant contribution to the team’s performance.
“He only trained twice and was involved in the international matches,” Thorup said.
“From the start, he showed us what a good player he is. He is ready to help the team, and that’s what he did today.
“Maybe the only thing missing was the goal at the end, although he had an assist and played very well. For a first game, it was really an outstanding game.”
Onyeka, who featured for Nigeria during the international break, struggled to regain his place in the Brentford starting XI after his run to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2024 final with the Super Eagles.
The former Midtjylland dynamo only started only one of the Bees' last 10 Premier League games in 2023/24, prompting him to accept a loan transfer to the Bundesliga in search of playing time.
