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Former Super Eagles captain Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has expressed satisfaction with his nephew Alex Iwobi’s impressive performances for Fulham this season, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
“I am very happy with him and his progress,” Okocha told Lagos Talks FM on Tuesday, praising the midfielder’s adaptation to a deeper central midfield role.
The 28-year-old has emerged as Fulham’s most influential attacking force this season, contributing seven goals and three assists in the Premier League, marking his most prolific campaign since making his top-flight debut for Arsenal a decade ago.
His recent form has vindicated Cottagers manager Marco Silva’s prediction that Iwobi would enjoy his best-ever Premier League season, with the Nigeria international featuring in all 22 league matches for the 10th-placed London side.
The former Everton star’s remarkable transformation comes just a year after facing social media criticism for his performances at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Iwobi’s impressive displays recently earned him a place in BBC’s Premier League Team of the Week for Matchday 21, following his brace in Fulham’s 3-2 defeat to West Ham United, where he also reached a significant milestone by making his 274th Premier League appearance.
The achievement saw him overtake legend Nwankwo Kanu as the second most-capped Nigerian in the competition’s history, with only Shola Ameobi’s 293 appearances ahead of him.
Former Watford captain Troy Deeney, who selected Iwobi in his Team of the Week, praised the midfielder’s versatility and consistency.
“He got another couple of goals and has probably been Fulham’s best player throughout. He can play numerous positions, but he has just been really, really good. He’s one of those people that we disrespect and underappreciate, but if he was in your team, you would love him to death,” Deeney said.
Iwobi’s 12 goals in 51 appearances for Fulham have already surpassed his previous Premier League tallies at Arsenal (11 goals in 100 games) and Everton (six goals in 123 matches), highlighting his improved finishing under Silva’s guidance.
