Obbi Oulare picked up a thigh injury and underwent surgery at the end of last season, but that didn’t stop him from joining Standard Liege on loan from Watford.
After recovering from the injury, he made his first appearance of the season against KAS Eupen and opened his account by scoring an equaliser in his side’s 1-1 draw against Sint-Truiden over the weekend.
That clash was his first start since February and the striker opened up about his struggle when he spent several months on the sidelines.
“The feeling is there again. A big relief after all those months. I’ve had a hard time mentally. I was just doing well at Antwerp and then I had to undergo surgery. Then you’re there with another three-year contract at Watford,” Oulare said, as quoted by Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg.
His contract with the Hornets runs down in 2021 and after picking up an injury, the attacker was worried about his future as he knew it would be difficult for him to make his way into Javi Gracia’s plans, if he had stayed with the English club, and not playing made a move elsewhere more difficult.
At Standard Liege, he reunited with his former manager Michel Preud’homme and Oulare has thanked his coach for trusting him and bringing him to the club.
“I was fortunate that Preud’homme came to Standard. He knows me, trusts me and has given me the chance to get back to the level,” he explained.
Should Oulare continue his recent progress then it’s likely he’ll get a permanent exit in the summer.