RB Leipzig of Germany winger, Ademola Lookman is anxious to get victory on his return to England, as he joins his German Bundesliga outfit in a UEFA Champions League round of 16 midweek battle away to Tottenham Hotspur, megasportsarena.com reports.
It is a testy home coming for Lookman, who shot to limelight with Everton and was part of England’s squad that won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2017, but he is currently struggling for form at the club he first played for on loan two seasons ago.
His return to Leipzig had been expected to be a hit, after he virtually forced his way out of Goodison Park to seal a full contract with the Red Bull-owned outfit, but he struggled for form ever since, such that Wednesday’s UCL clash will accord him a huge opportunity to prove his mettle all over.
The dice is cast for thrills from Lookman in the country of his birth, after he was named in the Leipzig squad for the trip to London, and the 22-year-old forward will hope to replicate the form that saw him net four goals and two assists in 48 appearances across all competitions with The Toffees.
Having also spent the second half of the 2017-18 campaign on loan at Red Bull Arena, Lookman is on a second spell at Leipzig, who flew to London on Tuesday afternoon, but it remains to be seen if he would be accorded game time by the club’s very youthful gaffer, Julian Nagelsmann, since he has found playing opportunities hard to come by since his summer arrival from Everton.
Lookman, who turned down the opportunity to switch allegiance to Nigeria in 2017, after an approach from Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr before he was selected in the England under-20 team same year, has made only seven appearances this season, mostly as a substitute.
He will now be eager to get a turnaround of fortunes with Die Roten Bullen, as he recalls his only start against Zenit Saint Petersburg of Russia on matchday three, when he lasted 69 minutes on the pitch, a scorecard he will now aim to beat on Wednesday against Jose Mourinho’s Spurs.
There will also be a touch of history for the Nigerian-born lad, as his only previous appearance in a match against Tottenham was on the last day of the 2018/19 race, when he got off Everton’s bench in a 2-2 draw.
