Lineker hails Iwobi’s terrific season

Former England striker Gary Lineker has praised Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi for his outstanding performances at Fulham this season, while the Nigerian continues to enjoy his best Premier League campaign yet, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Speaking on his podcast The Rest is Football, Lineker highlighted Iwobi’s impressive displays, saying, “Iwobi has had a terrific season. He’s been around the Premier League for a while.”

The 28-year-old has started all 21 matches for the high-flying Cottagers this term, contributing five goals and three assists as Marco Silva’s side sit eighth in the table, just six points off the Champions League places.

Iwobi recently declared his intention to make this campaign his most productive yet after already matching his best Premier League goal return just halfway through the season.

“You could say it is my best start to the season—I just have to keep it going and make sure it’s my best season. That’s the aim,” Iwobi told BBC Sport.

Silva, who initially signed Iwobi for Everton in a £28m deal from Arsenal in 2019, has rated the Nigerian among Fulham’s standout performers this season.

“Alex is one of the best players so far this season if not the best,” Silva said earlier in the campaign. “From the first day of pre-season, he’s been so, so brilliant.”

The midfielder’s transformation has been particularly noteworthy given his inconsistent spells at Everton, where he showed flashes of brilliance but struggled for consistency before his summer move to Craven Cottage.

Iwobi credits his excellent form to the freedom granted by Silva’s management style.

“If I do make a mistake, I can go again,” Iwobi explained. “It’s nice to have a manager who gives you the confidence to do that. Players normally do well when they are confident and with me, feeling confident to express myself on and off the pitch, I almost feel unstoppable.”

The former Arsenal man demonstrated his class on Boxing Day when Fulham secured a dramatic 2-1 victory at Chelsea, with Iwobi playing a key role as the Cottagers scored twice in the final eight minutes through Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz.