England and Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has heaped praise on Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka for his display on his Coventry City debut last night, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 28-year-old joined the Sky Blue Stars from Brentford in the January transfer window, but was unable to make his debut last week against Oxford United as his wife was about to give birth.
However, he was up and raring to go in their must-win clash against Middlesbrough and was thrown into the starting lineup.
The Brentford loanee played 75 minutes at the Coventry Building Society Arena, winning duels and helping his side stay compact in midfield.
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Frank Lampard weighs in on Frank Onyeka’s Coventry debut
After the game, the Coventry City boss was pleased with the Nigerian’s performance, reiterating that his high-energy runs are why he was brought in from Brentford.
“He was outstanding – the energy, the ball winning,” the 47-year-old said in quotes revealed by the Coventry Telegraph.
“He did great. He was so visible on the eye, you know, his pressing, his break-up and quality on the ball. He reads stuff and gets on the move so quickly. He can eat up ground, and he can play as well.
“When you bring in a player of that level, I think it gives everybody a lift. I expected that from him. He’s played in the Premier League and for his national team, but it’s not easy coming into a game at that level in this league. It’s tough, and it just looked like it was there.”
Deployed alongside Matt Grimes, the two complemented each other well to provide a more solid-looking midfield.
“I said before he’s a different profile for us and he completely showed it,” Lampard continued, lauding Onyeka.
“He’s looked like that a bit in training. I didn’t have too many whys about him because I know the player that I felt we brought to the club.
“He’s played in the Premier League, he’s played for his international team in AFCON recently, and I’m really, really happy with him.
“He was tired and cramping up, that’s why he had to come off, but he’s going to get fitter, but his impact was high, and I’m very, very pleased for him,” the ex-Chelsea boss concluded.
Coventry City’s win against Middlesbrough takes them top of the EFL Championship table, although just by a point.
