September 12, (THEWILL) – Life in the English Premier League has started on an immensely positive note for Nigeria’s Emmanuel Dennis, who joined newly-promoted Watford in July from the Belgian top division side Club Brugge after he was named Watford’s Player of the Month for August.
Playing in his first ever EPL season, in a team with a cast of players with previous Premiership experience, the award was a huge boost of confidence that earned him a slot in the exclusive list of Nigerian forwards to have been so honoured.
Dennis began his EPL career in a fine vein of form. He found the net in the August 14 opener against the highly improved Aston Villa side, opening his Premiership account and netting a debut Hornets’ first goal of the season after only 10 minutes on the clock.
He improved his overall contribution to the 3-2 victory by providing an assist as Watford got off to a perfect start in the 2021/2022 campaign. Dennis finished the tie as man of the match with a 100% shot accuracy, was never dispossessed of the ball and won all of his tackles for an all-round solid debut.
However, Watford followed that standout match with two other August EPL games that did not go their way. The two away ties, first a 2-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium, and then a lone goal defeat at Tottenham Stadium closed out the month with a disappointing drop from the excitement of their opener.
Every time that Dennis has not scored so far, the team has struggled and since his early debut goal, the 23-year-old Nigerian is yet to find the net. Though it has not been for want of trying, but his clinical edge, which attracted the Hornets in the first place, has not shone since after his debut.
However, that did not mean that the former Club Brugge striker was overlooked for the award. He still beat international compatriot Oghenekaro Etebo and team talisman Ismaila Sarr by amassing the highest number of votes for the award.
Dennis has now replicated the feat of Nigeria ex-internationals Odion Ighalo, who won the same award at the same English club, Watford, and Osaze Odemwingie at West Brom.
Hopefully, the award evokes a more potent drive for excellence so that, as he did against Villa, he can push the team to victory leading the line from his position in attack. Watford next up against fellow newly-promoted side Norwich at Carrow Road.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
