Trabzonspor of Turkey have given their new summer arrival, John Mikel Obi a clean bill of health, with the Super Eagles ex-midfielder and immediate past captain cleared medically to commence pre-season training with the squad, megasportsarna.com can report.
In contrast with initial worries that ‘The Catalyst’ could face fitness issues on arrival at the Turkish Super Lig outfit, due to the injury he copped at the Africa Cup of Nations, Mikel has been declared physically okay by medics at the Trabzon-based top-flight outfit.
Details of the heartwarming report out of Turkey reveal that the 32-year-old former Lyn Oslo of Norway, Chelsea of England, Tianjin Teda of China and Middlesbrough of England star had a successful medical check days after sealing a two-year deal with the club in June.
His outings with Nigeria at AFCON 2019 prevented Mikel from taking his medicals earlier, but he eventually completed the mandatory checks on Wednesday alongside Ghanaian midfielder, Caleb Ekuban.
Despite confirmation of Mikel’s health clearance, additional information from Trabzonspor, however, revealed that the experienced holding ace may miss the club’s UEFA Europa League qualifier away to Sparta Prague of Czech Republic, as he has not played in any pre-season game.
Mikel, though, will now hope to make Trabzonspor’s opening day fixture in the Super Lig, alongside fellow-former Eagles’ midfielder, Eddy Ogenyi Onazi, who is also close to full fitness, after copping a thigh muscle tear towards the end of last year.
Trabzonspor will face Kasimpasa on the opening day of the season on August 18, in a match that would accord Mikel an early opportunity to prove he still has something to offer at club level, as he aims to justify his arrival at Medical Park Stadium, with a contract that should run until 2021, with an option of an extension for a further year.
Following his medicals, Trabzonspor confirmed that Mikel will now wear jersey number 12 for the season, thereby reviving a tradition he started at Chelsea, but he had to settle for two during his five-month short term contract at Middlesbrough in the second half of the past campaign.
“Caleb Ekuban and our new transfer Obi Mikel, who are in the national teams of their countries due to the Africa Cup, passed the health check.
“The players who completed their health checks continued their work at Mehmet Ali Yılmaz Facilities within the special training program applied to them,” Trabzonspor disclosed.
