Victor Osimhen is expected to be fully fit for Galatasaray’s crucial Turkish Super Lig clash against arch-rivals Fenerbahçe after returning to squad training on Saturday.
The Nigerian striker had been sidelined with an arm injury sustained during a match against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League play-off before the international break. However, the 27-year-old has now begun a gradual return to full fitness as the Super Lig title race intensifies.
Osimhen underwent surgery following the injury and participated in non-contact team training sessions over the weekend. Despite the positive progress, he was not included in the squad for Galatasaray’s match against Kocaelispor on Sunday.
According to Nigerian media personality Buchi Laba, the striker is expected to return in time for the Istanbul derby scheduled for April 26. There is also a possibility that he could feature earlier against Gençlerbirliği, either in the league next weekend or during their Turkish Cup quarter-final clash on April 22.
“The King is back! Victor Osimhen was part of the training yesterday. Non-contact,” Laba wrote.
“There’s a little chance he will be available for the Gençlerbirliği game, whether in the league or cup, but he will be 100 per cent ready to start against Fenerbahçe in the league.”
Galatasaray also confirmed the striker’s progress in an update on Saturday. The club said Osimhen trained with the squad during the first part of the session before continuing a specialised recovery programme with physiotherapists on the pitch and in the gym.
With Galatasaray leading the Turkish Super Lig by two points before Sunday’s fixtures, supporters are hopeful the forward will return earlier than expected, especially ahead of the decisive derby against Fenerbahçe.
Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray on a permanent deal worth €75 million last summer, has been a key figure for the club this season. The Nigerian international has scored 12 league goals and added seven more in European competitions, underlining his importance in the team’s title push.
