After not registering a goal or assist so far in the 2019-20 campaign, Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch admits that the failure to finalise a move to Europe has affected him.

The 2018-19 Footballer of the Year was the shining light for the Buccaneers last season while he also shone for Bafana Bafana as he netted the winner in the 1-0 win over hosts Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations in July.

After a year of stellar performances, Lorch caught the eye of clubs in Europe with French Ligue 1 sides Toulouse and Dijon as well as Belgian Second Division side Union Saint-Gilloise all having been strongly linked to the player.

The 26-year-old, though, failed to seal a move away from Pirates and has subsequently gone on to struggle this season without a goal or an assist in his six appearances in the league.

‘Obviously I’m not happy because I have not scored and I haven’t made an assist. But I’ll get better. I just need to work hard and my confidence will get better and I’ll come back again,’ Lorch was quoted as saying by Independent Media.

‘The failure to move affected me. I have to be honest because I was looking forward to playing overseas with the best players but obviously it didn’t happen and I have to focus on my team,’ he said.

‘I still believe that it will happen. I just have to work hard and score goals for the team in the coming matches just like I did last season.’