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Nigeria star matches Cantona & Fernandes for exclusive Premier League record

Emmanuel Dennis
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The Nigerian striker continued his impressive start to the Premier League season in Watford’s trip to Leicester.

Emmanuel Dennis became only the sixth player in Premier League history to manage five goals and five assists in his first 12 matches.

The Watford striker, a €4 million summer signing from Club Brugge, has enjoyed a terrific start in the English top-flight. His 10 goal contributions alone make up 56% of the Hornets’ 18 goals.

Dennis supplied the goods again on Sunday by scoring Watford’s second goal against Leicester City to put them back in the game until Ademola Lookman sealed a Foxes 4-2 triumph.

Nevertheless, the 24-year-old Nigerian joined an elite group of former and current Premier League stars to reach five goals and five assists in 12 or fewer games.

Out of the players mentioned by Opta, Bruno Fernandes reached this landmark quickest. The midfielder took only nine games to do so for Manchester United following his €63 million arrival from Sporting CP in January 2020.

Red Devils legend Eric Cantona, former Arsenal winger Andrey Arshavin, and ex-Chelsea star Arjen Robben all took 11 games. Tottenham icon Jurgen Klinsmann, like Dennis, took 12 matches to reach the same stats.

Dennis returns to action on Wednesday as Watford face Premier League leaders Chelsea at Vicarage Road.

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