English youngster Noni Madueke made the difference again for PSV in their 3-1 win over Fortuna Sittard as he continues his sensational season in the Eredivisie.
The 18-year-old came off the bench to seal the win for the Eindhoven team with a wonderful effort, cutting inside from the right flank and unleashing an unstoppable shot with his left foot.
It was Madueke’s seventh Eredivisie goal of the season and his fifth when coming on as a substitute in what has been a breakthrough year for the London-born teenager under Roger Schmidt.
Madueke, an England U18 international of Nigerian descent, left Tottenham in the summer of 2019 to sign a three-year contract at PSV, rejecting Manchester United in the process.
After making his PSV debut in January 2021, he featured in front of a crowd of over 53,000 against Ajax soon after, while still aged just 17, but it is this season that he has really made an impact.
Madueke scored in his first start of the season in the win over FC Emmen in September and went on to add a first European goal in the comeback victory over PAOK Salonika in November.
“He is able to read situations, get to the right positions and be in the right place,” said Schmidt. “He has a good sense of that, with his timing, and, technically, he has the skills when one-on-one.”
Madueke’s progress was halted by an injury against RKC Waalwijk but this strike in what was his comeback appearance suggests he is in good shape to continue where he left off.
“I picked up an injury at an awkward moment in the season, with so many big games scheduled to take place,” said Madueke, who will turn 19 on Wednesday, after the game.
“It is hard to come back, but I’m delighted to have returned to action and fortunately we will play some big games shortly.”
This latest goal takes his tally for the season to nine in all competitions and adds to the growing excitement about yet another young English prospect impressing overseas.
