Osimhen set to return for Galatasaray

Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, is getting closer to returning to Galatasaray. He is currently in Nigeria, working on his recovery. The club is likely planning for him to come back against Kasımpaşa before their Champions League match with Barcelona.

Osimhen was left out of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. He spent some of the international break in Lagos. He continued his treatment with a physiotherapist after Galatasaray’s medical team advised him not to join the Super Eagles for the qualifiers.

Initially, Osimhen was part of Eric Chelle’s squad but had to pull out. His recovery from a muscle injury took longer than expected. Taiwo Awoniyi was then brought in as his replacement.

Turkish newspaper, Yenicag Gazetesi, reports that Osimhen might be back when Galatasaray plays Kasımpaşa at RAMS Park on Friday, October 9.

Manager Okan Buruk is not planning to start Osimhen right away. Instead, the 27-year-old is expected to come on for about 30 minutes, based on how the game goes. This plan would let Galatasaray check his fitness in a real match while slowly increasing his playing time.

This approach gives Osimhen four days to recover before Galatasaray faces Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 13.

Osimhen’s injury happened during Galatasaray’s 3-2 victory over İstanbul Başakşehir on September 4. He scored the first goal but had to leave the game in the 33rd minute due to pain in his right groin. Medical tests later showed he had a moderate strain with bleeding in the right adductor muscle group. This injury kept him out of Galatasaray’s Champions League opener against Sporting CP and Süper Lig matches against Kocaelispor and Trabzonspor.

Before the injury, Osimhen had a great start to the season. He scored six goals and had two assists in his first four Süper Lig games. His absence caused Galatasaray to drop to second place in the Süper Lig, behind Gift Orban’s Amed SK, but only on goal difference.

Galatasaray hopes that the planned brief appearance against Kasımpaşa will help Osimhen, whose market value has recently gone down, get back to full fitness and form. This is important before facing the bigger challenge against Barcelona.