Rotherham United star, Semi Ajayi, has received praise from his national team manager, Gernot Rohr, as Super Eagles get ready to regroup for the first time in 2019.
Rohr spoke exclusively to aclsports.com during an NPFL week 11 encounter between Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry football club, MFM, and Bendel Insurance at the Soccer Temple in Agege, Lagos, on Sunday.
Ajayi has been in an imperious form for his English second division side, and on Saturday, he netted his fourth goal in five matches in Rotherham’s 2-1 defeat to Norwich City in the SkyBet Championship.
The goal was the 25-year-old’s seventh of the season, and Super Eagles manager, Rohr, expressed happiness with how the player has processed since making his debut for Nigeria last year.
“Of course, we [Super Eagles coaches] saw it [Ajayi’s goal against Norwich] and we are very happy about it,” he told ACLSports.
“Since he came with us in that [AFCON2019Q] match against Seychelles, he [has] progressed so much, just as I see now even in his club. So, I am very happy to see him again and there is a good chance he could start in the match against Seychelles [on Friday].”
The former Arsenal trainee has looked transformed since moving from central defense to his new role in defensive midfield for Rotherham, a position Rohr says is a possibility in the Super Eagles for the versatile Ajayi.
“Yes, i saw that- his midfield role at Rotherham,” he added. “He can play that also with us, we will see.”
“But we have some opportunities now in central defense with Valentine [Ozornwafor], who is coming, and it is possible that Ajayi can push a lot more in the midfield.”
Ajayi, who has played in 38 league games for Rotherham this season, is one of 23 players called up for the final AFCON2019Q against Seychelles this weekend.
He made his Super Eagles debut in the first leg of AFCON2019Q, a tie Nigeria comfortably won 3-0, back in September 8, 2018.
