Head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr has tipped Samuel Chukwueze to “explode” next year.
Speaking with SportingLife, Rohr however advised the Villarreal winger to become more business-like in his approach to the game.
The German also identified the areas he wants Chukwueze to work on, to become a complete world-class star.
“(Samuel) Chukwueze is improving. He showed it against South Africa during the last AFCON in Egypt. But he still needs to improve more.
“He is now 20 years old and full of football talents and skills. He has a wonderful left foot, good dribbling skills, and good mobility. He is a great player for the future. I think he should be a very important player for the Eagles in future.
“He, however, needs to work more on these lapses. Mentally and physically, Chukwueze has to improve.
“When I saw him arriving for the Algeria match after performing well against South Africa, I told him, my little boy, you now have a new hairstyle and you want to look beautiful for the (Algeria) game. I told him, yes I understand. It is okay.
“I said yes your hairstyle is so nice but we are not here (in Egypt) to look beautiful but we are there for football war. Its a fight and a fierce fight against these great African teams like Algeria and our aspirations is to win the match.
“I told him to show me he can do it. I told him to use his heart for the game but not the new hairstyle.
“So there is still this understanding the issue regarding a high level of competition, to do well in big matches. So the match against Algeria was very hard for him because he is still young and learning the ropes. But it’s normal anyway.
“I want him (Chukwueze) to win time not to waste time in match situations. I want him to take his actions quickly. I believe by next year (2020) he will be fully ready for the fight to move up to greater responsibility and also excel for club and country,” Rohr said.
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