New boy, Christantus Uche was left visibly heartened by the reception he received from Crystal Palace supporters following his first appearance at Selhurst Park yesterday.
The Nigerian international, who joined Palace on loan from Getafe at the start of September, was brought on in their 0-0 Premier League draw with Sunderland.
Palace fans, long aware of his meteoric rise from amateur football in Owerri to La Liga with Getafe, had been eagerly anticipating how Uche would fare. Once on the pitch, he was met with warm applause, chants, and strong support—something that the 22-year-old later said “motivated me a lot.”
Though he didn’t have enough time to make a decisive impact, the encouragement from the fans clearly left an impression.
Manager Oliver Glasner has also expressed satisfaction with Uche’s performance. He suggested that, while Uche is versatile, his comfort lies in an attacking midfield “No.10” role, something the coaching staff will explore more as he settles in.
Uche’s journey has been extraordinary: only a few years ago he was playing in local Nigerian amateur leagues, before being picked up by Moralo CP, then moving to Ceuta, earning a transfer to Getafe, and now making his mark in the Premier League.
