Osimhen Needs Time After Injury Comeback

Former Fenerbahçe forward Bülent Uygun says Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen needs more time to get back to his best after his injury. He believes the Nigerian is not yet physically or mentally ready.

Uygun, who has also managed Sivasspor, thinks Osimhen's current struggles come from a lack of physical coordination and a negative mindset.

The 27-year-old, who was named the 2023 African Player of the Year, has had a hard time finding his scoring form since he returned.

Osimhen got a groin strain in early September during Galatasaray’s 3-2 win over İstanbul Başakşehir. This injury kept him out of three matches, including a big European game against Sporting. He also missed Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar during the October international break.

He came back on October 9, providing an assist in a 3-1 win over Kasımpaşa, but he has not scored since then. He couldn't find the net in a 4-1 Champions League loss to Barcelona on October 13, and again failed to score in a 1-0 win against Gençlerbirliği on October 17.

Uygun pointed out that Osimhen's eagerness to do too much after his injury, along with poor coordination and showing frustration towards his teammates, means he is not ready yet. He noted that the striker struggled even when he had chances.

“Even in the chances he got, he struggled to maintain his footwork in 4-5 steps. He has just returned from a serious injury, which is causing him to remain out of form,” Uygun said.