Portugal manager Fernando Santos was full of praise for Liverpool star Diogo Jota after a pair of well-taken headers in Saturday’s 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw with Serbia, in quotes reported by Sapo Desporto.
It speaks volumes about the strength in depth available to the reigning European champions that the most expensive forward in Liverpool’s history isn’t even guaranteed a place in Santos’ starting XI.
But, as Andre Silva, Pedro Neto, Rafa Silva and Joao Felix watched on from the sidelines, Jota seized his chance with both hands in Belgrade.
The former Wolves ace found the net with two beautifully guided headers in the first half, clinically converting crosses from Bernardo Silva and Cedric Soares.
Jota has now scored 15 goals in 30 games during an injury-hit 2020/21 campaign.
And, with Euro 2020 little more than two months away, the £45 million speedster has just given his hopes of a place in Santos’ first team an almighty shot in the arm.
“What I wanted (from Jota) was clear and it worked out,” says Santos, whose Portugal side dropped two valuable points in Belgrade following a stirring Serbia comeback.
“He scored two goals, gave depth, gave Cristiano (Ronaldo) freedom of movement, ran perfectly.”
There’s a growing feeling Jota’s speed and unselfish running in the final third may be the key to getting the best out of Portugal’s 36-year-old talisman too, with Ronaldo wreaking havoc in the spaces created by his teammate.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
