Mohammed Salisu exceled on Sunday as Southampton picked up their first point of the season against Manchester United in the Premier League.
The Ghana defender despite his below-par performance against Everton last weekend started against United at St Mary’s Stadium and he ended the match as the Saints best player.
Che Adams’ shot deflected off Fred beyond keeper David de Gea to give Southampton the lead, but before that Salisu made a goal-line clearance.
United found their equaliser in the second half through youngster Mason Greenwood whose shot squirmed under Southampton keeper Alex McCarthy.
Salisu was making his second successive start of the new season and this time he got it right. The first one against Everton was disappointing and he knew he had to make amends to remain in the good books of manager Ralph Hasenhüttl.
From the start, he didn’t seem nervous and even when United had control and piled on the pressure, Salisu was resolute at the back. His goal-line clearance, the major highlight of his performance, prevented United from taking the lead which would have made things difficult for the home team.
Statistically, Salisu was the man of the match according to sofascore.com. He earned a high 7.7 rating after he made 3 clearances, blocked 3 shots, 3 interceptions, one clearance off the line, touched the ball 47 times and no one dribbled past him.
His performance certainly excited Ghanaians who watched the game, but also wondered why Salisu has decided not to play for the Black Stars.
He turned down the first invitation in July last year and since then head coach Charles Akonnor has not called him up.
Recently when he named his squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia and South Africa scheduled for next month, Salisu’s name was conspicuously missing.
Akonnor said: “With Mohammed Salisu, you need check. The other day he said when he is ready, he will let us know.
“I don’t know, maybe. He said when he is ready, and up till now, I don’t know if he is ready or not. So I won’t be able to answer that.”
Salisu moved to the Premier League after Southampton paid Real Valladolid £10.9 million. Initially, he struggled but has now established himself as one of Southampton’s trusted players.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana