Boluwatife Kehinde
Victor Osimhen, the striker for the Super Eagles, has returned to full team training with Galatasaray following his recovery from an ankle injury sustained while on international duty two weeks ago.
The Nigerian striker picked up an ankle injury while on international duty two weeks ago, forcing him to sit out the Turkish champions’ last two fixtures — a Super Lig outing against Eyupspor and a European clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.
The 26-year-old actively participated in several training drills with his teammates in preparation for Galatasaray’s Super Lig fixture against Konyaspor at Rams Park, scheduled for Monday. However, he did not take part in the match.
As reported by Ajansspor, Osimhen engaged in various training drills with his colleagues and also performed individual training during Sunday’s session. His return to training is a promising development as Galatasaray prepares for upcoming matches, with the club previously aiming for a September 30 return for their UEFA Champions League encounter against Liverpool.
Galatasaray’s coach, Okan Buruk, had previously indicated uncertainty regarding the striker’s return date, noting that Osimhen’s feedback from training sessions suggested he was not yet ready to participate.
Coach Buruk stated, “Osimhen is injured. He did not play in the league game, and we had hoped that he would at least be available for this match. He attempted to participate in practice for the last two days; however, the feedback from him indicates that he is not prepared to play at this time. That is what we have discussed with our medical staff. The health of our players is paramount to us.”
The Nigerian international, who joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli during the summer transfer window, has made three league appearances this season, scoring twice before the international break that resulted in his injury.
Osimhen’s return would represent a substantial advantage for the reigning Turkish champions in both their Super Lig and UEFA Champions League campaigns. The club has been managing the striker’s injury with utmost care, emphasizing the importance of his complete recovery over a hasty return to competitive play.
